Rangers Sweeten Record With 5-3 Win Over 'Canes

Sauer gets his first goal




I love how pumped Avery gets after scoring this goal. About 2 seconds before we went on this 3-goal surge I txt my brother: "let's bury these guys.". It seemed like they were hanging in with us, but we were a much better team and we weren't really flexing our muscles. Then Gaborik took his game to another level and we were able to blow the game open a bit. Still felt we could tighten up defensively, which is something I'm sure the coaching staff will want to work on before our Saturday Night fight with Tampa Bay because they have Stamkos, St. Louis and Lecavalier who can make you pay.

By the way, Stamkos is leading the league along with Phil Kessel with 16 goals apiece, but Gabbi is keeping a steady pace with 12. Just throwing that out there.

Blueshirts Measure Up In The Eastern Conference, Down Penguins

Chris Farris dons the Broadway Hat

How great is it that the Rangers are finally winning at the Garden, huh? We have the World's Most Famous Arena--newly renovated to lock in sound and maximize the seating capacity--and the best, most rabid fans on the planet, and now after a number of seasons spent middling at home or only gelling on the road, the Rangers and the Blueshirt Fans are synergizing, spouting a dominant 7-1-1 Garden record. And that's 7 wins...IN A ROW, just to be sure.

To me it's just another example of how the resourceful Rangers are making the most of everything they have. Last year, 9 out of 10 LOCAL media outlets were ready to write off Gaborik and put him on the trading block, but true Blueshirt fans not only couldn't forget the dominant debut season #10 had, but knew the Slovakian Sniper had better days ahead of him. This year he is, in Torts lingo, "A Force." Our farm system has consistently provided players who fit into the big club's system and who are in terrific shape so that when a player gets injured we don't have to scramble to make trades. Hagelin and Mitchell are two of the latest, but even Zucc's call up last year was effective and certainly won us some shootouts and OT games. I see the Garden in the same light. There is no way that an asset as strong as 19,000 raging fans cheering their squad and relentlessly ranking on the opposition should be suppressed because the team can't win at home. The Garden should be a hellish, intimidating place for visiting teams to play and this year it is starting to become that. Like I said: Synergy.

now let's take a look at some highlights from last nite:

ON THE BOARD
You could just feel a big play like this from Gaborik coming because he was threatening all night. This is when you know Gabi's confidence is high, look at him receive this pass from B Rad and then immediately shift to take it wide. This clears up his path to the net and he gingerly comes in, makes one last move and is able to find Cally's stick as the Captain creeps in from the boards. Perfect execution, and a prelude to a big night for Money.




TIEBREAKER
Hagelin's speed makes this whole play possible. At the last moment he cuts to the outside, forcing the defenseman to deal with him and move out of the center lane. A controlled drop pass to the trailer allows Mitchell to come down Broadway with all the time in the world. Huge goal for the Rangers at that point, and huge goal for #34. I also think the call up of these two is improving B. Boyles game, giving him a more manageable sense of purpose than on the 3rd line where maybe he was getting caught up in the responsibility of providing the offense. I don't need Boyle netting 22 goals (though I loved it last year), but I'd like him to use his size effectively to free up space for Hagelin to fly and we'll see his point totals cruise.


RICHARDS GETS IT DONE
Not sure what TSN, CBC, or any other National hockey media outlet can't see about this Richards acquisition working out well for the Rangers but the guy is making things happen. He didn't even play such a consistent game, and seemed to struggle at times, but when the Rangers needed him to make a big play he was instrumental in getting it done. Here he takes a pass from Feds and wrists a laser past Fleury just like he did against Montreal's Cary Price at the Garden. Maybe he just hates French Canadian goalies?




PP Tic-Tac-Toe
Now this is how you work a Powerplay. Win the draw. Richards is your visionary, so get the puck back to him as quickly as possible. Recognize the geometry of the lanes and get into one that's open, like Del Zotto does. If the puck goes cross ice quickly and everyone shifts, try to get it to the middle so you capitalize on the other team scrambling out of position. Del Z does it perfectly, knowing where he's going with the puck before it gets to him, and G Money is able to cash in on the 2nd effort with some incredible eye-hand coordination. Simple, right. haha!

All in all a great effort from the boys in Blue. Sure the Penguins got back in the game, but hey, they were the 1st place team and games between these two teams are always close. As Lundqvist noted, we stayed on our game and as a result of that, Pitt took lazy penalties in the 3rd. Even though we couldn't capitalize on the 5-3 it killed off a chunk of time and our defensive play shined for the 2 points.

Lovin' The Garden Buzz!

Broadway Hat Looks Rad on B. Rad

Huge victory on the Island last night for the Blueshirts. The streak rolls on to 7 wins in a row, and hat-wearer Brad Richards put up his 8th point in as many games, ripping the game winner over the shoulder of Nabokov late in the 3rd period. Even Al Truatwig had to rescind on his lobbying for the Broadway Fedora in the presence of Richards in the postgame interview, calling it, aptly, the Broadway Hat. Small step for man, but a giant leap for Ranger fans.

Lets WORK THE POINTS on last night's Win:

HENRIK!! HENRIK!! HENRIK!! While the offense was stalling at the beginning of the season, Hank was still playing great goal for the Rangers, but it seemed there was little he could do when we were putting the opposition on the powerplay 8 and 9 times a game. During this winning streak The King is 5-0 and last night he was an absolutely clutch performer. It was a close game. The Islanders are a good team, and their top line dismantled us the last time we met, but Lundqvist was phenomenal last night.

Look at this sequence below with the Ranger lead on the line and the Islanders pressing in the 2nd frame. Hank uses his mask to control the action, then waits out an impatient Parenteau in a game of goal-line chicken.


Sorry, PA.

OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE
I love it when our D gets involved in the goal buffet. Early on it was McDonagh being a hero, then Girardi and Del Z added to the Powerplay attack, Woywitka earned his stripes and last night hardworking, underrated Stevie44 finished off a perfect cross ice Callahan feed after spending 2 minutes in the box for sticking up for himself when Matt Martin ran him in the corner. (True Prust got in their for the fight, but I think it was actually Emminger's retaliatory hit that caused Martin to immediately retreat to the lockerroom holding his shoulder. Bottom line: you don't mess with Stevie44!)

AVERY
Can't deny the impact 16 has had the last 3 games. It started when he got the cobwebs off his knuckles by fighting Zenon Konopka in Ottawa and has carried through with 2 goals, penalties drawn, + ice rating and more sustain on the forecheck. Last night's goal sparked the club and gave the Rangers the start they needed on the Island to be successful. Sean had Mottau off his game the whole night and even though the emotion of the rivalry seemed to un-discipline our team a bit (too many penalties, old habit) we kept patient to our game plan and prevailed.

CALLY, DUBI AND RICHARDS
Let this be the line. It's insane to me that B. Rad should play 3rd line. I know they want to get Boyle going and keep Avery's momentum at a full charge, but the line of Richards, Dubi, Cally coming off the GAS line (who were dangerous, though scoreless) is the best 1-2 punch we can put together. On top of that, Avery scored on a play set up by Boyle. And Richards scored on a play set up by Dubi. So learn from what works and keep those guys together in Montreal, eh?

Dubinsky, Avery Join The Party

The fact that the Rangers could nab as many wins as they have at this point of the season WITHOUT Brandon Dubinsky scoring a single goal is a mind-blowing testament to how well they've played as a team, and how timely the G.A.S. line and PP scoring has been. But Friday night Dubi broke out, tracking the rebound of a Cally bad-angle shot and slamming it into a wide open net. Guess there's no such thing as a bad angle when you've got guys desperate for rebounds hawking the slot for scraps of trash. 17 followed this up with perhaps his most Dubi-istic effort of the season on his very next shift, demonstrating his horse-like strength in the corner, protecting the puck against 2 defenders, keeping his feet moving as he muscled and churned below the goal line to ultimately free himself long enough to get a wrap around chance on the far side that Callahan was able to finish off with he and B Boyle crashing Cam Ward in the paint. The Rangers scored 4 in the third period to finish off the struggling Hurricanes and extend their win streak to 6 with a 5-1 W.

I can't wait until Brian Boyle gets his offense going. You can just tell he's dying to get on the board more and after watching the latest episode of "Beginnings" on MSG network, and seeing how hard he works at getting better during practice and in the weight room, you can't help but root for him. A goal against the Islanders would certainly put him right on the track towards where he needs to be.

Al Trautwig continued to annoy by referring to the Rangers' game mvp hat as The Broadway Fedora, explicitly calling it that in the postgame broadcast. I guess that's the way it'll be for now, being that Al has the microphone. Kevin Delury, who runs the official New York Rangers blog, made mention of The Blueshirt Brigade's article on the matter. Thanks KD.
http://www.nyrangersblog.com/2011-articles/november/dubinsky-looks-dapper-in-thebroadwayhat.html

Most importantly, though, is that we are winning, and we have a chance to pass the hat around. #bluepeopleproblems

Speaking of The Broadway Hat, with an electrifying goal and drawing 2 penalties, Sean Avery could've easily worn it. If Avery can consistently have this kind of impact, not only will Torts be forced to find more ice time for him, but the Rangers can really find some spike in their bottom 6 forwards with Avery maybe picking up some of the slack that a banged-up Pruster has been struggling to grab and run with.

Check this skill out:


not bad, right? I would've loved to be at the Garden to hear Blueshirt fans go nuts.

Can't wait for this rematch on the Island. Their top line tooled us around last time we met coming off that Europe trip, but this time we have a top line that's working and we'll be up for the challenge.

Let's Go Rangers!

Top Line Ensures Rangers Come Out On Top In Ottawa

No doubt Artem Anisimov's 2 assist night earned him the Broadway hat last night, but it was probably his rink-length full speed back check that saved the Rangers' bacon early in the 2nd period last night and inspired the W. The game had a funny start with the Rangers--who have had great Garden starts--unable to sustain any forecheck on the forecheck, and were guilty of giving up far too many odd man rushes--routine 2 on 2s turning into 4 on 2s. Fortunately Lundqvist was sharp and kept the Blueshirts in it, as always. Sean Avery answered the bell with his biggest contribution since being reinstated into the lineup, fighting that goon Zenon Konopka after the latter flung some vengeful words towards the Rangers in a pre-game interview referring to an unpunished elbow Wolski inflicted on Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson when the teams met two weeks ago.

Despite the start, the Gaborik, Anisimov, Stepan line came out flying all over the ice, generating scoring chances on their first 2 shifts, but the rest of the lines were unable to sustain. Early in the 2nd, the newly titled G.A.S. line got caught deep with all three forwards below the circles. The Senators broke up the ice 4 on 2 but it was a long backcheck by Anisimov, skating in full stride to arrive in the nick of time, that tipped a cross ice pass into the safety of the corner. Torts praised Anisimov's play over the weekend at the Garden, and commented that he liked AA up there because his excellent defensive instincts keep this line rooted.

And now that the roots are planted firmly, the fruits are growing in the heights of the trees. Down 1-0, the G.A.S. line answered immediately with Anisimov working a forecheck, causing a turnover that Stepan picked up and found Gabbi wide open across the ice. Shortly after it was another aggressive forecheck from AA and Step that resulted in a giveaway and this time Step put it in. In the 3rd period, Step headmanned to G Money on a long, slow 2 on 1 and the re-invigorated sniper cashed in, darting a snapshot over the goalie's shoulder.

The G.A.S. line combined for 7 points as the Rangers notched up their 5th win a row. If only we can get Dubinsky rolling. Goal-less on the campaign thus far, and victim of a holding penalty last night, Torts took him off the Richards/Cally line in an effort to see if something would click between Dubi Prust and Boyle.

Hey Trautwig, It's Called The Broadway Hat

Derek Stepan muggin' it up in The Broadway Hat following a 2 point night in the Rangers 3-0 win over Winnipeg. Half a second after G. Money smacked that 2 on 1 pass into the back of the Jets' net in the 3rd, my dad txt me: "Step is a Beast right now." The sophomore has finally awoken from his early season slumber and in the last 4 or 5 contests has come into his game. Not only is he seeing the ice remarkably well, but he's understanding the pace of the game also. What I mean by that is he's developing that sixth sense all great playmakers have (Richards has it, Leetch had it, Del Zotto has it in him) where they can not only anticipate a passing lane opening, but also execute a pass when the opponent's sticks and skates have cleared that lane. Early on Step seemed out of sync: passes were getting blocked, heavy-footed through neutral zone, key shots were missing the net (that terrible 5 on 3 PP against Edmonton). He had the skills, but at times he looked like he was struggling to keep in with the flow of the game. Now, as Joe Micheletti stated, he's allowing the play to come to him, and when good playmakers do that, the game appears to slow down around them. The pass through the crease he slipped Christensen on Saturday night and his patience to wait out that 2 on 1 with Gaborik Sunday night until the defenseman's stick was out of reach before lasering a tape-to-tape assist demonstrate his growing comfort level on both the PP and the Blueshirt's top line.

Has anyone noticed Al Trautwig's on-air lobbying to change the name of The Broadway Hat to...The Broadway Fedora? He mentioned it a few games ago, then after the Winnipeg game he brought it up again and asked Maloney and Micheletti if he had their support--they gave it. Now here's the thing: Why? Why try to co-opt something that the Ranger players created for themselves, Ranger fans love, and Ranger media embrace. Why change it, Al?

Look, here's Lundqvist clearly stating that the hat was brought in Europe, and it's called The Broadway Hat. And he'd like to wear it every game. Simple, right?



On top of that, here is a Twitter and Facebook page for The Broadway Hat. These are made by enthusiastic fans who recognize a little something new and unifying in their Blueshirts and are running with it.

I'd figure with how much MSG network and Hockey Night LIve push social media this season (having players answer tweets in between periods, reading fan tweets during the postgame) they'd at least be aware of either of these 2 pages and maybe Trautwig would just let a good thing ride, but he keeps hammering away during the broadcasts trying to get his stamp on what the players created. I'm not gonna say it's selfish, but I will say it's coming off as dickish.

I have no real problem with Trautwig in general--I know he's a long time, passionate Ranger fan, and I know that because I am a long time passionate Ranger fan. He's a good master of ceremonies for Ranger game coverage, even though I know he's probably as big a Knicks fan. I hate basketball. I only have one love. I'm grateful for Hockey Night Live because I love hockey, and need my fix of Blueshirt post game analysis and in all honesty I can't afford the NHL network or the Center Ice Package. But here's the thing: when it comes down to it, players need to come together on their own and gel and trust each other and fight for each other and root each other on and pick each other up in order to unify as the Blueshirt team we all want them to be. When Torts comments 'we got a good room in there, good guys in the room', I believe him. You can see this Ranger organization building off of last year's identity-emphasis to continue to be an even more cohesive unit. Whether it's blocking shots on the penalty kill, or yielding to the Garden crowd and taking Sean Avery back in, or Del Zotto Prust and Boyle's postgame handshake or The Broadway Hat--we are definitely seeing a unification of Ranger enthusiasm. Hell, even the official team website was changed to Blueshirts United.

So why try to change any of that? Why knife in there and mettle? As The King said: "we're calling it the Broadway Hat." Nuff Said.