Game 9
Rangers vs. Lightnings – 7:30 PM MSG
So I’ve got some leads on the poll and it will probably be in place for the next game but not tonight. This is clearly a half-assed venture. Feel free to list your three stars in the comments and I’ll do my best to aggregate them into a list.
Tonight’s probable lineup for the Rangers (5-3), via Steve Zipay (@stevezipay)
Jimmy Vesey-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Pavel Buchnevich-Mika Zibanejad-Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller
Brandon Pirri-Oscar Lindberg- Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Kevin Klein
Antti Raanta gets his second start of the season. His prior start was a 7-4 win against the Sharks. It is Raanta’s first career appearance against the Lightnings.
Kreider will miss his fourth straight game, but barring a setback, will play on Tuesday against St. Louis. When he returns, that’s when things will get interesting for the forwards.
Clendening remains Prucha’d, also for a fourth straight game. Given the PP’s efficacy without him in the lineup, it is hard to come up with a compelling reason for him to be in.
Even so, the defensive pairings have been shuffled, with the Staal/Klein pairing being split so that Staal is with Holden and Klein is with Skjei. I thought Klein struggled against Carolina while Skjei had one of his better games of the season.
The only change among the forwards from Friday in Raleigh is a swap of Grabner and Fast on the third and fourth lines.
For the Lightning (5-3), both Nikita Kucherov and Ryan Callahan are injured, but one of them will play tonight, unless the Lightnings carry seven defensemen instead. Obviously, Kucherov is the far more dangerous player. Ben Bishop will start in goal. Historically, the Rangers have struggled against Bishop, who is 9-1 in 10 career regular season games played against the Rangers, with a .940 sv % and 1.60 GAA, including 2 shutouts. However, Bishop has struggled early this season.
Once again, a personal note, thank you so much for joining me here. If I can make this blog even half as good as Carp’s, I’ll be pretty damn proud.
I will not be able to watch this game live, so we will have our first guest review. I will, however, be including a short statement regarding recent occurrences with the blog.
Don’t forget to tell everyone you know and to follow me on Twitter @rangersreport2
First!
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Good evening all! I am royally ticked off….game seems to be blacked out tonight in my neck of the woods. NOT FAIR!!!! What am I paying Center Ice for!? Byfuglien!
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Raanta has an ooportunity tonight. Bounce back game the way Calm did in his 1st season.
Interesting lineup tweaks. McDonough deserves a better partner, but otherwise I approve.
LGR!!
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And Doodie, there’s nothing half about your ass…:)
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What’s NYR’s could-have-been record now? 8-0? 7-1?
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Mama, the game is listed as being on NHLNUS @ 7PM. Don’t know if that helps or hurts your situation.
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LGR!!! Let’s see how we stack up with these TAMPS
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like Grabby up on 3rd with Lazy Haze and Miller Time
.
Wait, where’s Grabby??
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Holy crap! You never know what people have under their jerseys! How pucked up you have to be to have all of this tattooed on yourself?!
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Recent occurrences on the blog? Is Doodie firing himself?
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Doesn’t, but thanks Hill. Trying other avenues with help but I think I’m just hartnelled.
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Ugh John G. – great between the benches but horrid doing play by play.
Anyone else listen that tool Tony Luftman on NHL channel and cringe to the 100th power. He and Pidto should be roommates….
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At the end of the day, even if did give up too much, Callahan for MSL was the right trade.
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Where is everyone?
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Let’s go Raanta!
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If Run-Tuh has a good game, I’d play him again and again.
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Staal- at least it was on net…
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Hi Olga
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I don’t like at all how Rangers are starting games at home.
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Rangers will win this game. I feel it in my bone.
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Checking in. LGR!
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Crowd sounds insane !
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It sounds like Wimbledon.
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Umm Err… Hi? Do you know Ivan Jerkinov?
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Fast belongs on the first line. The guy is a scoring machine.
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Tampa Bay has slowly emerged to be one of my most hated teams.
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Hawks – Kings
Toews makes it 1-0 in the first.
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Hi Rachel – welcome to the jungle.
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Go Hawks. I also seriously hate the Kings.
Sutter – “wubby tubby Ribby dibby. Tubba rubba Dubba do”
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Tomato Puree scores here. Book it.
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Just went back and saw what happened with Sioux. So sorry dude.
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Gravy – not sure if we know what happened with Sioux. It ain’t good whatever….I feel for him…
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Gravy – are you with that NJ lady?
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If Hank played tonight we’d be down 2-0
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Gravy – Jessica something…??!
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E3, from his Twitter posts, I believe the worst.
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E3, she turned 29, so I need to find another 28 year old from northern NJ.
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Bogus call
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This outside referee is an idiot. Clipping? Ludicrous. And Tax Free still whines when he gets hit.
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Well, good road period.
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Raanta rooking good.
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Picks just seem to find Bishop no matter what he does. Got get this lumbering goalie moving side to side or he’ll toss another shut out! I hate the lighting!
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I also hate auto correct obviously I meant pucks!
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Gravy – when you say the worst…,do you mean the worst? Lord have mercy.
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Rachel – I’d say excellent period. Rangers have dominated periods one and two. The first had been the Achilles heal.
Rangers 4
Bolts 0
GWG The Laos Lazer. Also scoring Jay Tea, Boo-Shev-itch, Gnash, and tomato Puree
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Bag lady with a first…she must have been sleeping in the entry way of the blog wrapped in newspaper
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Full respect to Raanta. MSG is as loud as a golf crowd in a rainy day.
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GOAL of Master!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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About time, brah.
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Kachinga!!!
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E3 re: your 7:42…gravy couldn’t cut the mustard, so I moved on.
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So Nash is good again?
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Size (Bishop) didn’t matter… Did it?
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Hopefully many more happy returns…
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Rachel – my above should read this season rangers have dominated periods 2 and 3.
Jessica – don’t be so quick to give up on gravy. His mustard is something special.
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Fantastic combination!
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Absolute beauty.
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That was next level puck movement. Wow
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What an UGLY goal. Filthy
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Oh my!
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VESEY MONEY !!!!!
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Review THAT!
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Vesey!!!’
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Holy Carp. Vesey does it
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Rangers need to send a message with this game and don’t let Tampah back in.
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Now, show me a killer instinct.
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Contributions on offense from any line on any night. Story of this season thus far
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And Bishop steps out for a quick prayer.
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Operation shock and awe, technically known as rapid dominance.
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Punky Sustr.
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Belated woot.
Belated woot woot.
Belated woot woot woot
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Full two minute 5-3 pp squandered.
I ain’t even mad.
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E3 is my wingman.
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Shocked they didn’t take a penalty during that PP
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Seedub – I’m not mad either, but I’d feel differently if I wasn’t so sedated.
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Hey, Jessica. Pretty picture of a bear you have.
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Jessica, no hard feelings. Well, maybe one.
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Anisimov. Hawks up 2-0
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Jessica – gravy’s mustard comes in a variety of colors and flavors. Try some on a Weiner. I know you’ll like it.
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John G just said Johnson
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E3, re your 8:01, it seems so. Really terrible, awful to comprehend let alone have it happen.
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That was some pass to Grabner by Skjei. That kid is going to be a good player.
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The Cambodian Kid = monster
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Pre season I hoped for good outcome from Pirri and Grabner and so far it’s working. If only Hank could find his former miracle self, and Klein, one of my faves, get in pre-back shape, I’ll be almost happy.
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Vigneault keeps rolling four lines and each line keeps putting pressure on the opposing teams.
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Miller time.
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Woot woot woot woot
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So, Bishop problem solved? I don’t want to hear about it any more…
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Gravy – burying your child is the worst feeling in the world. I cannot fathom the pain he’s in now.
I called the Cambodian kid, Gnash, and Jay Tea as goal scorers.
I see dead people.
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Rangers found out Bishop only moves diagonally.
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Ha Olga!
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Good period?
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Salmon Joe of course couldn’t help talking about how Bishop and Tampah defense have been slumping. Of course can’t give Rangers credit for this game.
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Olga – genius!!
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I hate Tampa as much as I do the flyers, fishies, and devils.
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I’d love to see killorn try and fight miller, I’d love it.
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Joe said they keep coming
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Olga…priceless 😉
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Nash > No Nash; Miller and Hayes twice as good as last year; Skjei with the pass of the night; Raanta, D solid; Vesey the steal of the year. Gorton has to be pretty pleased with himself.
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Do my eyes deceive Bishop has holes?
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I think I’ll watch anyway.
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SeeeDdubbb, I forgot to shave my legs this morning.
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Lmao, papa.
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Olga – genius!
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Really feels good whacking Tax Free and Squirrely Bowman,
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Just went back a thread…so sorry from r your loss Sioux.
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Vesey + Nash = dynamite!
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One thing about this system AV uses, your goalie needs to be able to handle the puck.
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Big part of why talbot had such a big run, Wick.
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….when he was a ranger.
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The gift of being a parent. I am forced to watch cartoons on TWO TVs!
So are they playing good? lol
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Tampa is the one of the dirtiest teams in the league, its full of a bunch of little punks. It should not shock anyone that it is the organization gudas developed and played in.
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We want 5.
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Woot woot woot woot woot
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Grabby Grabby Dooo !!
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I’d trade Hank. Run-Tuh and someone from Hartford are more than enough.
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Little bit o finish there.
Bishop sucks.
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I always was saying that Grabs belongs to 3rd line. Great and very serious kid.
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Hank has been the second best goalie on the rangers 2of the last 3 years.
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Spankin’ the Bishop.
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Would like to see a little bit more from Ziba. Really. In this goalfest.
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How long before bishop skates over to the bench and has a Roy I’ve played my last game for this organization moment?
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Beating the bishop lol
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He’s a Hagelin with skill.
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This crowd won me over with the mock cheers for Bishop when he handles the puck.
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Have not heard the mock cheers in quiet awhile. Remember MSG crowds doing that to our goalies many times in the old days.
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Grab the Hat!
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Woot woot woot woot woot woot
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Hattie!!!!
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Finally we can see his smile. Monster!
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Dang Grabby Grabby.. Grabby Doo !!
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Nifty work from haze.
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Just saw the tony from AZ fam on the TV…refresh refresh refresh
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Hawks up 3-0. Hossa from Toews.
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Give up your hats!
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Dammit, Auntie deserved the SHutout.
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Cheap goal allowed. Whatever.
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Testing
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And they’re on their feet at the Garden!
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I’m out
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Now AV looks like a genius placing castling Grabs and Fast.
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Three Stars:
Grabner
Raanta
Toews
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And they’re on their feet at the garden.
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Papa John Schlatter’s must be bankrupt now
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Grabby / Miller /Hayes
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Stick Salute, Mama.
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Holy smokes Seeedubb !! Epic vibin’
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Sounds like a law firm in New York: Grabner, Grabner and Grabner.
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Epic indeed, Admiral.
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My posts are disappearing
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Great game folks!!! Rangers Win Rangers Win!!!
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Great game folks!!
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I voted hated, got to know when to Holden, and not Hagar…in no particular order
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Smackdown!
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Miller, and Hayes were a lot better tonight. What was different? I can’t put my finger on it.
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Bdl
Because they didn’t have to be furniture movers and carry a couch?
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Auntie made the saves he needed to make. Never let up a questionable goal (until the end) which couldve allowed momentum to switch to Tampah.
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That’s it Wicky! They had a different line mate. Thanks for helping me figure it out.
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I’m here for you 😉
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Meanwhile in Pissburgh: Carl Hagelin 1 goal 1 point and is – 4 in 9 games so far.
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Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, HaGOONlin see wearing his Stanley Cup ring.
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I feel like that game we did to Tampa what they have done to us the last several years. We out depthed them and had the puck the most. I think I like it.
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Gravy
Don’t make me block you! 😛
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I mean other than the garbage time pp goal, did Stamkos play?
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Yeah and haggling makes more money too…oh wait 😉
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Inmates running the asylum, 3CP 😉
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Hagelin has better hair.
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Better hair than who?
I thought Hank;s hair looked pretty rested tonight.
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I don’t know. It’s late. Who were we taking about?
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I can’t believe I didn’t get to watch this game. ARGH!!!! Niters for me…Ta til tomorrow…..
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When is Kreider coming back?
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Grabby up to 3rd was called by, ahem, me. Guy has wheels, smarts and some mitts.
VC is really, really special.
Auntie Rantaa had some very good saves in the first half of the game and made it look easy
Butch is very crafty. Can’t wait for THE to come back.
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Gravy
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Sioux, my condolences.
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Was at the game tonight. Wow, speed does work. Lot’s of odd man’s, first to the puck, etc. Grabner is a solid speed player. Nice to see him get some deserved glory. Raanta was cool, calm and efficient in net tonight. He made some large saves that made the difference. I hope our #1 goalie was watching.
Good crowd tonight. The Bishop chants were great!!!!!
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LMAO. Soul Glow. Love it
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Just finished watching and reading the comments.
If Raanta can handle it, he should play roighly every third game.
If Kreider comes back Tuesday, who comes out? I could see Fast and Pirri platooning.
Wonder if the plan is for Skjei to get to play 3rd pair with Girardi, Holden and Klein, until they believe he can move to the 1st pair with McDonough sometime before the trade deadline. If Skjei can’t handle 1st pair, maybe Gorton makes a move.
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Ohh Baby, unless Skjei makes a quantum-leap in his game, I don’t see him going first-pair this season. Even out of necessity. I also don’t think they’d do that unless they start getting him used to the right-side as well.
From what I see from his skills, when he develops, he’ll be a very nice second-pairing guy. He can move the puck but won’t even be confused with an offensive defenseman. He’ll play a solid defensive game and very good transition game.
Top-pairing righty is still a HUGE organizational need. Though the alleged Norris-caliber guy we let go to Tampa a few seasons ago didn’t look so hot tonight.
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Dave- all good points about Skjei, (and Norris Stralman), and i dont disagree. But the cost to aquire a 1st pair right D, (even a rental like Shattenkirk), is going to be high.
Skjei could be a better option than Girardi, Klein or Holden by spring. And yes, they would need to start to play Skjei on the right to prepare.
I’m not necessarily advocating for this option. Just saying that it could be Gorton and AV’s plan to explore it.
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NEW POST , Manny
Get your act together, will ‘ya? 🙂
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