Game 10
Rangers vs. Blues – 7:00 PM MSG+
No poll tonight, but I promise I will look at it before Thursday’s game against the Oilers. 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 (6-3):
Jimmy Vesey-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller
Pavel Buchnevich-Brandon Pirri- Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Kevin Klein
Henrik Lundqvist returns to the net after being spelled for a game by Antti Raanta.
Chris Kreider returns to the lineup after missing four games with neck spasms. His return pushes Pavel Buchnevich down to the fourth line to play with Pirri and Fast. It seems that for the time being, AV wants to roll with the Grabner-Hayes-Miller line that combined for four goals on Sunday night against Tampa, including a hat trick for Michael Grabner. I can’t say that I blame him, but I would be quick to swap Buchnevich and Grabner if their current combinations struggle.
Coming out of the game to make room for Kreider is Oscar Lindberg, who has looked a little bit behind in terms of preparation since returning from offseason hip surgery. Clendening remains Prucha’d for a fifth straight game.
The shuffled defensive pairings from Sunday will remain intact. Nick Holden leads the team in plus/minus, putting him on par with Marek Malik and Michal Rozsival in terms of contribution to the team compared to plus/minus.
For the Blues (5-3), they are mostly healthy, with only 6/7 defenseman Robert Bortuzzo out with an injury. However, slumping sophomore Robby Fabbri will be moved down the lineup to play with Patrik Berglund and Nail Yakupov. Jake Allen gets the start in goal. The last time these teams played, backup Carter Hutton stole the show and preserved a 3-2 win for the Blues despite being outshot 15-0 in the third period.
The Blues, as a team, are struggling to score goals. Their 2.44 goals per game puts them at 23rd in the league. By contrast, the Rangers are first (!) with 3.89 (!) per game. Both of these numbers are likely to move to the mean, but we can only hope it won’t be tonight.
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.
Don’t forget to tell everyone you know and to follow me on Twitter @rangersreport2
1st?
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Nice looking roster tonight. Big problem (good to have) if Buch is on 4th line. Very exited.
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Fantastic, classic replay of 3rd goal. Candy for eyes…
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‘atta boy 4ever!
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Manny! I missed the terror:excitement ratio lol
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I think it has a lot to do with Grabner, actually. If Grabner didn’t have such success moving up to the 3rd line, you’d see him drop back to 4th line and they’d find room for Buch on a higher line.
But like you said: good problem to have.
Not to take anything away from Pitt’s stars, but their bottom 6 was the difference last year. I’d say we now have a bottom 6 that can play at that level.
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If there was a poll I would have already voted. Backup goaltender, Zuccarello and Klein.
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Go Time! I love Go Time!
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Who’s writing the review Doodie?
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Whole heartedly agreed Dave. It’s a good thing. The fourth line hasn’t been an assembly of spare parts (or misfit toys as I called them). Instead it’s more of a percolator effect where there’s skill and production overflowing from lines 1-4. Granted AV doesn’t have his “defensive specialty” or traditional 4th line but modern day NHL is about 4 lines that can play and get rolled off the bench. He’s not even missing speed anywhere. So I’m with it until something changes
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Nice to see Miami THE back
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lets kill someone
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What little bit bothers me, is that combine weight of our 4th line is only slightly more than of Ryan Reaves.
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That’s because Vigneault hates toughness
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LGR!!!
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Good evening all! Phew, busy day but skating in just in time (until iPad loses juice). Doodie, I’ve told you, your ass is full on my friend!
Please tell me there haven’t been more incidents….I’m pleased to have found a place around corner from me that gets games no matter what so no more blackouts!!!! LGR!
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Anybody got a guess as to whether the World Series ends tonight?
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Yeah really. I mean Teams are pushing them around. I think Glass should come up for a spell and play with Lindberg and Fast.
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NO BLACKOUTS!
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I’m writing the review. Weekends are tough for me, but most weekday games will be self-reviewed.
Mama, are you calling me fat?
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Manny, no guess on whether the World Series ends tonight, but I can tell you when my interest in this year’s baseball season ended: 11/2/15.
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Sorry, Doodie. That was BRUTAL.
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Ha!!! Of course not…..let me correct….this blog is full ass….! In a good way of course
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MSG+ + Ranger fans = anger
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You can’t spell “Rangers” without “ANGER”
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LGR!!! Great job James! Thank you!
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…or Rang
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Is Stepan playing this season?
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Remember when everyone wanted Paul Stastny?
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Hi Manny! Been a while.
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Is Stepan the bald one?
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I miss Carp
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Cripes, that was awful PP
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I got a big goalie stick too Sam
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Agreed Mama. they look a bit flat
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1st?
This thing is rigged!
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Did anyone reach out to Latona?
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Or Tommy G?
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Latona! Great call. On it.
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“Is Stepan the bald one?”…Not fully yet. He likes to glide, accustoming to the season.
Rangers can’t catch their game rhythm yet…
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So that’s a “NO” on Stepan?
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This had makings of 1-0 loss
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Manny, now that it affects me …. I can’t tell you how byfuglien ticked I am by this scam everyone has going in order for folks to watch games out of market…
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Very polite kid – Stepan…
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OH MY GOD CONNOR MCDAVID I CANT EVEN BREATHE HES GOING TO BE HERE AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
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Mama: The NHL claimed they were going to do away with blackouts. So anyone, anywhere on the planet, could pay $18/Month and get EVERY game in HD. They apparently (shocked face) lied.
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MUCH BETTER!!!!
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Yahtzee !
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WAY TO DO IT FOR LANDON!
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Girardi justified 1/4 of season already
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make-up
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We have a fast team and defensemen other than McD and Klein hitting the net. I must be in heaven
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G on pace for 16 goals. eat your heart out Trouba
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Freakin beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Its so easy when you’re Jimmy Vesey!!!
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Well, that St. Louis Blues gameplan is going REALLY well.
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I love vesey the kid great hands
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Holy hartnell! Eric, need to readjust your prediction….
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nose for the net, Eric.
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Connor McWho? 2-0!
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Beautiful pass by Step. Nice patience.
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That’s just beautiful.
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Also Stepan showed up just in time
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Way to expand the market eh Manny….asshats
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Yeah, there are no jokes with this team now. PP mostly looks like something good will happened. My hockey Gods!
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ANnnnd McD is hurt
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Can someone please get a .gif of McDonagh skating straight into the wall? Please?
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What just happened ???? I put my head down for a second!!!
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This is my nightmare if he’s hurt
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The passing on this year’s outfit is unreal. One-timers when they’re the play; holding it a tick, as Step just did, when that’s the play; ragging it until someone’s open (Hayes, Zook…) when that’s the play. Early days, but, wow!
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The Kid has something the really good ones have: accuracy.
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Great. McD is blind now.
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33% of our D-Men are blind.
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What happened???????? I missed it
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Ive never seen an NHL player literally skate into the glass without another player pushing him. Hope he is OK
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holden-girardi now the number 1 pair
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Hank looking like he’s 29 again!
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theres a flash of king henrik
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Hank wants his job back.
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old Hank style miracle save
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Season over if Mac is done .
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Season over as long as Eric’s alive.
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That looked like a stick right in McD’s eye. Did not look good.
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I’d be so mad if Fabbri scored that. I just dropped him from my fantasy team..
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Nick Rash is having a GARBAGE game tonight.
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whats wrong eric?
Girardi-Staal
Holden-Klein
Clendening-Skeji
that doesn’t make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
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Playing with a disaster…
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Of for hartnell’s sake…..I’ve got a blues feed and no replay….I’m gonna newspaper this whole place if someone doesn’t tell what happened to him…..
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Nash should be nicer, he’s gonna be Steen’s linemate come April…
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When’s the last time Rangers had a penalty shot?
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Oh. FYI for all you fellow Cormac McCarthy fans we are calling Nick Holden JUDGE HOLDEN in honor of Blood Meridian
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They need the Nash. They need the monster nash. not this guy who took a slash…Baaaaaaaoooooooooo
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Season alive again norm
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James
That could be worse group of six in nhl. Without mac
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Shocker, the Rangers got hosed again.
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A penalty shot wasn’t called. Let it go, Micheletti!
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Miller hates scoring. It’s amazing he scores as much as he does.
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Who’s Miller?
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MacD with second most TOI that period, behind Hayes. Beast. Beasts.
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Amazing that the idiot ref was standing right over Schwartz when he put his hand on the puck and did not call it. It could not have been clearer.
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I hope St. Louis gets awarded a penalty shot tonight. Joe M. might fall down
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This year, I can’t believe that an awful job by the refs is still something you deem amazing lol. They’re the worst.
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I have no problem with Joe calling games, but at the beginning of the game the blues try and enter the rangers zone and it’s a delayed offside Joe says “the rangers team is so fast, the blues just return to the neutral zone instead of forechecking and risk an odd man rush”. Idiot,they didn’t forecheck due to the delayed offside…then al says the same thing during intermission.
–
Morons
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Phew…home with MSG feed….maybe they’ll tell me what happened to the captain ….
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very impressive we is…no complaints
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Now it is a time for Ziba, to step up and show some scoring to catch the rest of bunch.
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It was odd, Mama. He seems to be alright now.
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Captain is fine, Mama. Just took a stick to the eye.
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Zibanejad doing everything but finding the back of the net tonight
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Stick to the eye during a scrum in front of Hank
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Mika Virus rules.
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Need Ziba and Buch to put one in and then all will be right in Rangers land
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This line isn’t gonna work for Buchnevich btw. square peg-round hole
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This team is fun to watch. Playing so well.
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Are they really trying to discuss Girardi’s offensive upside?
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Nash?
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He’s alive!!!!!!
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Noice!
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NICK RASH
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Bank shot, side pocket! 3-0!
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Nash – the garbage king! We take every one of ’em!
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Nash > No Nash
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Yea, CCCP. This team is fun to watch right now! I’m personally having a blast.
PLUS we have our BLOG BACK
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McD gif. It’s really funny now since he’s not blind.
https://mobile.twitter.com/myregularface/status/793597872092483584/video/1
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methinx the cup is ours….boogerit
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They are U N S T O P P A B L E!
AV FOR PRESIDENT!
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Can you say “balanced attack”? Only got about ten guys leading the team in scoring.
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Ilb
Re landeskog…iirc this past summer his name was out there because the avs were looking for a top 3 d man (I believe in the non redacted rangers report we discussed moving staal for him quite extensively this past summer). They are still looking for top D supposedly, hence why he is available. Thing I saw recently was he was still “available” and might be a ducks avs deal with fowler and landeskog changing teams…horrible deal for avs imho.
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You are the best, Booby!
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Refs starting to feel guilty about calling penalties on Rangers
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Belated woot
Belated woot woot
Belated woot woot woot
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I’m glad the rangers are winning, but I find this all-star game passionless hockey rather droll. It’s like watching practice…bleach.
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Does this mean we are the November Champs?
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Speaking of shattenkirk, I can think of 3 rightys I’d rather have than him that might or will be available.
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Akbar,
It does, but it’s a trap.
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Omg, that was hysterical …. Thanks Booby! How in holy hell did he let happen ???
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Only one goal in the 2nd period tonight? They stink.
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Look at that, opie the victim at it again
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Let’s Go Rangers PP!
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Stuff it Wick! Lol
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I’m realizing it’s scary business if we lose a center or dman
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Woot woot woot woot
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ZUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCC. It’s A Power play goal!
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Who is this team?
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Where was this game on FRIDAY!!!!!!!!
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That ones for you Brass.
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Things Wicky say.
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Man. That was totally Stepan’s fault and we get a free goal.
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Freakin adorable when the little man jumps into Kreiders arms
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Easy Tappen! 4-0.
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Candy. Baby.
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James
Just stating facts…typical opie
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Hutton? Ain’t nuttin’.
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Jake Allen just destroyed my
Goalie stats for the week.
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Just keep pouring em in boys, just keep pouring em in.
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Cotton Stuffing.
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Could always scratch him and bring up Gerbe, Wick : D
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I’d rather bring up Nieves James 😉
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Not to be lost in another offensive onslaught is that Henke is having probably his strongest showing of the season
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My only reply: “Booooooooooo”
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1st in Metro up for grabs.
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they are dismantling good teams…never seen it
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Gerbe is good for boarding himself twice a game.
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Rangers playing 100% positive hockey. You can dump and chase and grind. (And so can we if we want to, but we don’t.) We will skate and pass and shoot you to your knees.
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THE sucks… new goalie aims for logo 😆
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Joe seems to agree
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Too bad 72 games left. Be nice start playoffs tom
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$10 food and bev credit?…wowow!! That’ll get you what’s left under someone’s seat during intermission
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Hawks – Calgary 8:30 start.
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Woot woot woot woot woot
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Tic-Tac-Goal? 5-0!
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Wow Miller. Sick hand-eye coordination. What a play!
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Wow, glad Haze gave up his Marijuana prescription!
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Party like it’s 985. Holy Edmonton Oilers
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Are they furreal?
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Unbelievable……that was gorgeous….good period?
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Now they’re just scoring for fun. Hayes is my 10-game MVP.
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I think they can score on every trip down the ice.
Me likey.
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Reaves plays 18 minutes in 3rd
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2nd period beasts
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Wow! These guys are having fun! Wicky must be hating all the stoopid goals.
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“Party like it’s 985.”
Burn a witch?
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How can anyone not like this team?
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So I haven’t checked the stats, but it feels like half the Rangers are leading the league in scoring.
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When they’re averaging 1 goal a game for a 10 game stretch in December, we’ll look back fondly at this time.
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If Mcilrath was playing he’d be having a pointless fight with Reaves and have momentum shift to Blues. Blues would win 6-5
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Where’s the poll Doodie?
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This offense is unreal. Loving it!
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So, Montréal have yet to lose in regulation, eh?
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It’s fun to win like this but I still am VERY concerned about this team in the post-season. It’s kind of like the NHL’s version of Chip Kely
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Big difference between this particular team and teams from before is that this team actually capitalizes on pretty much every odd man rush. I have not see anything like this from this franchise in a very long time.
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There’s your crease clearing defenseman.
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Handbags! Anyway, watch the stove for me, fellas, gotta go tutor some moldy minds.
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Manny
Mcdonut did it once this game, there’s a gif to prove it lol
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LOL, Wick. Wicky TEXT</b.
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(And, Manny, pace yourself. Post-season’s a few days away.)
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Someone needs to tell Brady beat wide skjel to take his skirt off.
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This is really fun to watch.
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I meant 1985 Olga, my fingers are too fat to phone blog.
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I could handle skjel’s shirt off….
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perhaps it’s sacrilegious but this team are like gods from ancient Mesopotamia …i think carps departure was a good omen ,,,yes that’s it!
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He’s a child, Mama!
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Isles are getting smoked! Love it!
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I agree CCCP. This is looking like Gretzky, Kurri, etc. on these rushes.
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What Ovechkin did for that kid in Edmonton is just awesome!
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This team reminds me of the caps about 5 years ago, regular season heroes and playoff zeroes
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I had to manny 😉
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Icelanders down 5-0 at home to Tampa half way through the game
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Yea. This team NEEDS to be able to score a greasy one from time to time.
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Papa
Absolutely re ovi
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Make that 6-0
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IsLOLanders
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I hate Tampa and the fishies so meh
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who cares what igor does he is and will be the enemy f-em
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Hmmm I just got quoted by Dugay
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Yeah, even I’ll give Lurch credit for that…
Manny, your point?
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“Who are these guys”
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Bag lady must be looking at men’s underwear ads in all her newspapers
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Man. Not really the best night for Cleveland.
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But they have gotten dirty goals too.
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Man islanders could easily lose 10-0. They look like theyve quit on Capuano. Ladd has 1 point on the year. Loving it
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Wicky, that’s just silly….that’s what the interweb is for….
Ha! I remember the day I posted a shirtless Avery picture on blog…some of youse went ape carcillo! Good times…..
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If the Cubs are to win a WS, coming back from 3-1 seems appropriate. The Red Sox had to come back from 3-0 against the NYY for their drought breaker. Getting to game 7 and losing would be unnecessary torture for those fans. Blowing 3-1 not much better for Cleveland.
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Our boys really made Tampa angry. Brooklanders feel it in embarrassing way – 6:0.
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Is baseball still being played?
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Do the Blues get charged for this clinic?
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They got to get Buch a goal
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Baseball not being played by Injuns
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Little Elvis Costello at the garden in honor of This Year’s Model
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Hitchcock looked like he’d had a few shots….
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Ha! I think the Blues coach’s name just got my comment moderated….doesn’t bode well for me….
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Then we better not start talking about all time horror film directors…
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All i want is a shutout and a Buch goal. Kid needs something for his confidence. In a couple of games he will come out for Lindberg because AV doesnt like having people sit for too long
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All I said was it looked like he’d had a few shots….maybe it was the hitch part?
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Wes craven? Lol
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Bag lady,
It was shots 😉
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It’s likely the latter half of his name, Mama
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I think I of all people am able to figure that out Manny…😜
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Isn’t that discriminatory towards roosters?
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BTW i dont want Shattenkirk. I wasnt impressed with him in that first game and even less so tonight
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Game over?
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Really enjoying the Foxwoods final five sans clench.
Way more better.
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St Louis coaches rooster has a hitch in it?
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I’m having trouble making choice for third star….
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Where’s the typical Rangers form where they give up a goal in the last couple minutes to ruin the shutout?
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Cockle doodle do!!!!! Hank!!!!! Awesome game….I’ll get robbed of salute of course…..
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Hahah!!! Yep, just tried to make a rooster noise in type and got sent to moderation…..HANK!!!!
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Not another stick salute?
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We are pretty good.
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They haven’t given up much open ice in their own end this game. Impressed. What a start to the season for the Rangers. Papa Johns… not so much.
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Jeff Gorton for President!!
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I voted shampoo boy, hated, and easy peasy jimmy vesey…in no particular order.
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Yes!!!!!! I got to see the salute!
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Vesey, Hank, Zuc
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Stars…
McDonut for his head tap on the boards
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The 5 goals are great, but I’m really happy for Hank getting the SO. That’s good medicine.
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Vesey has such a baby face.
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They’re on their feet at the Ganrden!! What a sweet SWEET team! AV is coaching for his job!
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Hank, Vesey….yeah, I guess I’ll go with Kreider
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FIRE SATHER!
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Weren’t we supposed to be a team in decline?
The window closing on Hank?
Lmao.
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Haze for loosing 20# since not having munchies anymore
Gnash just cause
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Best defense is a great offense
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They kinda made it look easy.
So….
You know they’re gonna throw up all over themselves against Edmonton
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He’s gone Olga
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I was thinking Zucc, Olga….I’m gonna rig this vote and add him to my list.
Vesey looks like he’s barely old enough to have a learner’s permit…adorable.
Ok, long day for me…fab evening all! See ya tomorrow. LGR and Doodie!
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VC scores goal scorer goals
THE pass to Zucc and Miller pass to Hazy were really special
.
Somewhere Fran is smiling at this passing.
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Hitch, Bab and Han. In that particular order
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Rangers lead NHL in goals and goal differential. Wow.
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BB, you made me bag lady!! Hahahahaha…..!
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Fran.
🙂
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Vesey, McDonuts, The.
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Awesome game! I expected more from the Blues, but this team is hard to contain right now.
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Weeeee!
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Made it Ma! Top of the Metro!
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Where’s Linda?! We need some helmet nuzzles
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Boom!
I’m at the panther game but can’t wait to get home and watch that Ranger smackdown.
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No where to go but down
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Hawks 1 Cal 1 after 2.
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Manny: one game too early for EC. I will be there Thursday.
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Papa!!
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Agree that Shatty is not worth $6M per into his early 30s
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Anybody missing Yandle. . . or Boyle?
As many of us have been saying, addition by subtraction. And Holden and “Beat Wide” Skjei looking pretty good. Skjei’s game will continue to improve and he could be 1st pair by the spring.
The more I watch Shattenkirk, the less I want to give up valuable assets or a contract next summer for him. Not impressed.
Hank looked sharp from start to finish.
Not sure if we’re looking at fool’s gold, but this team’s looking pretty good right now.
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NEW POST
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Hank, Vesey money & Danny G. I gotta give some defense credit on the shutout. IMO he played like the Beast of old.
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