In Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities, he does clever job paralleling the personal and the political. And one of the novel’s most important motifs is the figure of the double as Dickens uses doubling technique to draw comparisons AND contrasts. He also uses the literary tool of foreshadowing quite well. I had a literature professor once tell me to read this novel aloud to appreciate his genius. Well, this was a tale of two games, and the first period did not foreshadow what was to happen in the third period. Now for the review.
1. The first period was a horror story. The Rangers seemed to be two men short for the entire 20 minutes. Outshot, out hustled, out played, out skated, out hit, and out skilled, it was easy to see how CBJ reeled off 16 wins in a row. The Rangers had no time, no space, and no chance. The Blue Jackets were like white on rice, or brown on rice, depending on your tastes, whereas the Jackets had infinite time and tremendous amounts of space.
2. Once again the opposition scored inside the first two minutes. Now, we all know that AV likes his leadership group to ready the team before a game but enough is enough. Something needs to change as these guys just are not ready to play the first period from the moment of the first puck drop until the horn sounds ending the period.
3. Bad passes, sloppy playing, failures to clear, awful turnovers, passionless hockey, and it ended down 3-1 for the boys in white. The first CBJ goal was a wrister near the blue line with a partial screen in front. Hank needs to make that save and a Ranger defenseman needs to clear that body parked in front. The second goal was a PP goal after McD cross checked Foligno who looked as if he was shot by one of the cannon balls Columbus blows off after a goal is scored. Within 20 seconds or so, the cannon ball did go off and it was 2-0 Jackets as the Rangers were chasing the puck and it looked like all 4 PKers were to the left of Hank leaving a whole bunch of CBJers wide open and it was wham bam thank you ‘mam into a wide open net. Hank had no chance.
4. The first 13 minutes was total submission by the Rangers and total domination by the Jackets. It seemed like I was watching a replay of the Sabres game. Two terrible games against the Pens and Wild. Three good games followed against NJ, Ari, and Col. Then a crap show against Buffalo and a great game vs Filthy (Sorry Monk). This looked to follow form as the bad game in a series of games that could easily proved to be a converging sequence.
5. The deficit was halved as the Spirit of St. Louis, aka The Machine, formerly named Oscar Meyer Lindberg, a man that does not discriminate as to what minor penalty he is charged with during any game, blistered a beauty high glove side, far side. Hope springs eternal (in this weather? Say what?)
6. The deficit was then doubled as Ein Klein gave up the puck like a wimpy 6th grader giving up his lunch money after being confronted by the middle school bully. Very weak play by #8. It led within seconds, to a 3-1 lead as Scott Hartnell, easily one of the biggest turds in the league, baseball batted a knee high change up passed to him from behind the net. No one touched Hartnell before, during, or after the goal.
7. The period ended 3-1 with the boys in white holding the one. The Rangers were on their heels the entire period as the play was in their end for nearly all 20 minutes. Rangers registered 7 SOG to CBJ’s 15, but none of the 7 were anything close to actual scoring chances. Shame, too, as Hugh McElheney, a long ago, SF 49’er, was in net giving BoB the night off. When you’re facing a clear second string goalie you’d expect, at least hope, that your team would come out of the gate hard charging. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
8. CBJ employed a popular tactic against the NYR. A heavy forecheck pinning our D deep in their end with no ability to move the puck out cleanly. This needs some serious correcting. As was the case against Buffalo, the Rangers simply couldn’t connect two passes together to save themselves. And each time the resulting turnover ratcheted the pressure leading to more good scoring chsnces for CBJ.
9. Yet another turnover led to a breakaway by Lukas Sedlak as he beat Henk 5 hole. 4-1 CBJ led with 17 minutes left in the second period. The Rangers playing better and as strange as it seemed, they were not out of this game as 72 later Grabner was shot out of a cannon screaming down the left wing on a clean break wristing the puck top shelf stick side.
10. Looked like a set play off a face off win by Haze to the left of Hank. Grabner swooped into the circle, banked the puck off the near boards to himself and he was off like a rocket. Amazing wheels. And he wasn’t done yet.
11. Steve Weeks after the game said that Grabner came to camp in better shape than anyone else on the Ranger team. This explains, perhaps, his explosive start where he seemed to have 2 or 3 breakaways every game. Speed is one thing but unlike Hags, Grabner has a set of hands and has proven to be a great finisher.
12. The score was 4-2 and I turned to my wife and said that as bad as they were in the first, they were not out of this game. She asked what quarter they were in and I told her the bottom of the fifth inning (I kid of course). Seriously, the Rangers were competing and CBJ looked a little confused. The second period ended 4-2 in favor of the home team.
13. All the Rangers needed was a goal to close within one and we’d have ourselves a game. What I’d like to know is why the Rangers, who came out in third firing on 19 cylinders, began the game fizzling on zero cylinders. Is it that AV and the leadership group were motivational wonder kids to start the third? Or is it that AV and the leadership group were unable to ready their team to start the first? You decide!
14. All I know is that the Rangers dominated the third as much as CBJ owned the first. Wave after wave of white jerseys were putting intense pressure on the Jackets. And then it happened, Adam the Gerund showed that he wants to be a noun and scored, during a PP, on a nice shot after a good move. He kept his shot low and the crease was crowded and the puck found its way to the back of the net. It was now 4-3 and our boys weren’t finished. THE then came bustling down on the left wing on a breakaway and tucked the puck 5-hole. It squirted thru McE’s legs and rested against the inside of far post where it lay seemingly for ever until cleared by the Jacket D. After his shot, THE was hauled down. No call. Moments before Ribbit’s penalty in the first, Zuuc was interfered and tripped, no call. Mattered not as the Ranger PP was pretty futile until Gerund’s first goal which made it 4-3.
15. The Rangers kept up the pressure and you could feel a major shift in momentum. Ironic given CBJ won the Nov/Dec cup and were one game off a 16-0 run. But clearly the Rangers were coming and coming hard and the Jackets didn’t have a repose. Torts might have been smart to call a timeout and steady his team.
16. I said on the blog about this point I’d be happy with a point and with just over 7 minutes remain The Gerund threw a bad angled shot toward the net from the far circle and it went in. His first two goals of the season were scored back to back in the third 11 minutes apart.
17. Adam Clendening, The Gerund (from Norm), should be playing more than he has. Is he stellar in his own end? Maybe not. But he should spell Girardi, who’s played better at times this year but no where near where he was 4 years ago, once Staal recovers. In facr, Gerund should spell Girardi then Staal then Girardi then Staal as often as need be. Number 4 plays with Snarl. He gave Hartnell an earful at one point near the end of the second and he had words for several flyers including Schenn at the end of last game too. I like his game. It’s certainly not as bad as Girardi, Staal, Shay, and Ein Klein have been collectively this season.
18. You have to appreciate the job John Davidson and Torts have done this year. The Jackets remind me of the 2011-12 Ranger team only with more speed and much more skill. I do think they’re a good team and we will see how well their second half is but I expect it to be no where as good as their first half.
19. Around now, with the score tied at 4, I posted, as Admiral Akbar will attest, that the Rangers would win 5-4 with Fast scoring the GWG. I wasn’t too far off. I really do see dead people.
20. The Rangers kept on the attack and continued the assault on the CBJ goal but it looked like we were going to OT. Then, with about 20 seconds left, off a faceoff in their own end, Lightning Fast Grabner once again shot out of s cannon came in and went back hand over the glove hand and it was 5-4.
21. CBJ now on a two game losing streak giving up 5 goals each game. Rangers on a 2 game winning streak and have won 5 of 6. Great way to end things going into the bizzare 5 day break.
22. Some takeaways. Wicky is absolutely correct. This team needs to add some grit and physicality or they won’t make as deep a run as we’d like. It’s true Nash, Zman, and Buch will be back soon but I wish we could swap Zucc and Pirri for Lucic and somehow get a guy like E. Kane, character be damed.
23. Jaspar Fast has shown he can deflect shots from the point. He’s also shown no skill whatsoever on a 2 on 1, or any other skill in the O zone. He’s just awful. AV knows more about hockey in the gum he spits out than I ever will so there’s something about Fast’s game that he likes, but it sure isn’t his offensive skills.
24. That was a great win. Coming back from being down 4-1 against any team is noteworthy and to do it against the team with the best record in the league is even more impressive.
25. And it’s on to MSG next Friday against Toronto and let’s win there.
My Three Ranger Stars:
1. Grabner; 2. Gerund; 3. Hank
lets go GMEN. Make my weekend extra sweet!!!
75% of this, literally, was done on the can. My left leg and foot are so numb I feel like I’ll faint.
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Wow, near-instantaneous report! Excellent, excellent. One quibble–“Gerund” belongs to coos. I’m simply waiting on the league to award me the primary assist.
Mighty comeback by the one-trick pony, beer-league Rangers, overcoming their terrible coaching, their questionable defense, their third-rate goaltending, a defensive forward (Fast) who refuses to add more than an assist… How they’ve ended up with all these points is anyone’s guess. So soft, so undersized, so selfish. If they could only bring themselves to bring in a fighter, they might have something.
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That was …. interesting? What is up with these total non-starts? Yes Hank should have had that 1st goal. But why did that guy have so much time and space and time and space and time and space to get that shot off and why was no one anywhere near the guy that was screening Hank literally 6 inches in front of him? And what was up with the penalties? And why am I asking so many questions when we won in an absolutely amazing turn of events? Carp is tweeting out alarm bells and dissing Hank – I guess I agree with the alarms but I can’t agree with the jab at Henrik. Just like in Buffalo, 3 of the GA were not on him and he made some stellar stops in the 3rd. With a semi-decent defensive performance in front of him Hank is still one of the best. Expecting him to routinely stand on his head is just silly. I loved the fact that they didn’t give up against a very tough opponent and I hope the gerund continues to play. When this team is healthy I think they can be pretty special. With a trade for a decent defenseman they can be contenders.
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You can fault Lundqvist for being a foot outside the crease (being too far out not the usual criticism of his play) thereby causing legal interference on the first goal. And, yes, he’d like the 4th back, even if it was a nice deke, but where was everyone when he shut down Jones at the end and the game goes from 4-5 to 5-4 soon afterwards. Isn’t that the so-called big save at the key moment? He hasn’t been at his best this regular season, but he and Raanta have been more than good enough. 82 games.
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Hockey Sittoo, I agree with your post right up to the end, when a trade is required to make them contenders. They’re #2 in the standings.
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Norm / from one math geek to another, you know I lurve you
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What I could not figure was the Rangers not trying their best to get pucks on the half of a shooter tutor Curtis McIlhenny. Good Lord. The dude could not stop a beach ball. Watching him reminded me of Gilles Gratton and Terry Kleisinger, which means I was having flashbacks of horror. Clendening sure keeps them out on the front foot with his aggressive play, and he is no more hideous in his own zone than the decaying corpses of Girardi and Klein. It was a exhilarating win. Lagreca and Maloney really lost it on the winning goal. Pretty funny stuff.
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Great review E3, well done sir.
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Poor norm thinks we are the early season cup champs and the team doesn’t need to improve anywhere.
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How this perfect team isn’t 82-0 is bewildering. I’m sure the games the rangers lost intentionally as a public service to other teams fans must drive him nuts.
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Norm
Overreact much? My god, you seem like a decent guy but are quite the drama queen.
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We had a Drama Queen in my old neighborhood. Great fries but watery Shakes.
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Coos
How were their sundaes?
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Kooz – you’re referring to Tony Luftman, the NHL channel Dairy Queen
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Thank you boys, thank you. (In homage to that brilliant SNL that carp posted the other day)
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Indeed, the game is not over until this fat lady sings. So many days off now to limber up for my next aria–I can only imagine how bad the Rangers are going to suck by Friday!
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A double flusher! Great review of a phenomenal game, at least the 2nd half. Was lol at the wifey comment and others.
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Grabber has speed but is also very very smart in his off puck play. THE needs to watch him anticipate to better understand the game within the game.
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Now it’s on to the 5 day break and let’s win there
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Actually, E3, you emerged from the Can at approximately 8:55 with the score 4-2 in favor of Columbus, with your VISION of FAST scoring the GWG, 5-4 Ranger win.
Give yourself more credit, Eddiedamus!
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Awesome write up E3.We are a tale of two teams.Lets have faith in commissioner Gorton to bring in the missing piece.
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Eric?
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Shampoo Boy needs to step up in the 1st period too. And never, ever step out of the net to play a puck. Can’t say anyone on D has played well for weeks now (defensively that is). All the talk of “getting the team ready” – its not like AV changes their batteries and flips the on switch every night. They are pros and need to act that way for a full 60. If it were football you have the depth to bench anyone you see dogging it but not really a serious option for AV. With a few exceptions, they are not an old team so this really is inexplicable.
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Double Flusher – lol
Thanks E3, great and enjoyable review. I missed the game but watched it late night. Yooge comeback, made even better for me by reading the go time thread while I rolled the tape.
Youse guys rule!
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AV’s love of veterans is the reason for the slow starts. Seems he depends too heavily on the vet leadership and only steps in when the team has played so weakly, it’s obvious to everyone.
Anyone remember when Torts took a timeout after some lame Rangers play and said nothing, did nothing… AV can’t be that creative of a leader/teacher ever.
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Excellent review E3.
When you said at 2-4:
NYR 5-4
GWG Fast… I think it was a keyboard malfunction as you meant GWG fast (aka Hags with sweet hands)
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So nice they name him thrice.
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Glen Resch, Denis Potvin, and Mike Bossy all talked funny. What’s up with that?
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Well done yet again E3. I missed the game & am now behind on my player glossary (gerund) which I had to look up. Shame on me as an English major too. I’m not sure whar magical sparkling water you use in your can but I imagine the effervescents allow you long can time to allow espousal of such erudite poetry. Well done professor!
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Also, game review I give 4 out of 5 wipes. Could have used some editors notes & spelling corrections.
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E3, you are a sick bastid at times, but you’re really great at this review stuff. Well done once again, sir.
Now, I want to quote one line from this review: “Hank needs to make that save and a Ranger defenseman needs to clear that body parked in front”
If you could search archives for this and the original RR blog with that sentence, how many articles do you think would come up from the last 5 years? 10? 20?50? I’m not exactly Dickens (although I did keep a 4.0 throughout my Literary courses back when I knew proper grammar and punctuation) but I want to mention two paralleling story lines here in as well. You have a banged up team that played an onions game after going down 4-1 and you have a goalie that although some feel has been good enough, has really shown us through the first half of this season that he can’t be counted on the way he has been for the last 12 years. I have no answer as to why this team isn’t better prepared for the start of games nor do I feel like this is a new issue. What is definitely a new issue is Lundqvist’s performance over the first half here. His numbers aren’t bad. But get beyond the numbers and you realize that his ratio of “omg what a save” to “he needs to stop that one” has seemed to flip for the first time in his career. With the defense in no way an innocent bystander in all this, it unfortunately falls on him to make the difference. You can improve the D by the deadline but you can’t rebuild it.
You can say i’m being doom and gloom if you want, but it’s just the reality of the situation. Like I said a few days ago- if he doesn’t find that next level he’s been known for in the past, this team is ultimately going nowhere. They’ll make it fun, and they’ll win 6-5 and 5-4 but that’s about it. We’ve seen him heat up down the stretch before and hopefully he does it again at some point.
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Trading Places:
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Did a quick check so my count may be off by one… 7 of BeepBeeps! goals are unassisted (including 3 of the last four). @JamesG a lot of teams have won cups with less than otherworldly goalies. We can be successful with HL drop off in OMG saves as long as he cleans up the WTF goals. HL also made an interesting comment post game about “playing for minutes” after having given up 4. It kind of rubbed me the wrong way at first but then thought maybe its good he realizes that his throne is not guaranteed.
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LOL. My wife actually asked what quarter the game was in. I told her they were just starting the second half. Also, with the game 4-3, I was hoping they’d tie the game and at least get one point out of it. It didn’t matter if they got the other point in overtime.
When you think of it, they are winning games with five of the bottom six players being Fast, Lindberg, Pirri, Hrivik and Jensen. Apparently, either these guys aren’t as bad as a lot of us fans think they are or the top six must be awfully good.
To me, I don’t see Hrivik and Jensen being NHL caliber players. Pirri started off well, but he doesn’t seem to add anything. Lindberg is pretty good at faceoffs. Fast is a good defensive player, but is offensive on offense. It looks to me that if they are going to have this many players that are offensively deficient then at least one of them should bring a physical game. No, not Glass – I’m talking about somebody that can actually play the game of hockey at this level.
You would think with a Tortorella coached team that his system would guard against blowing a three goal lead. That’s what made the comeback so much more exciting.
With Nash and Buch about to come back after the hiatus I’m looking forward to seeing Vesey playing with linemates with some offensive ability. I think in a year or two Vesey is going to be one of the team’s leading scorers.
I’m not sure I blame Hank on that first goal. You can’t stop what you can’t see. I think he was screened all the way. He came up big in the third period though. Even though the Blue Jackets didn’t get too many shots, the ones they did get were dangerous.
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4th line was abhorrent last night.
3rd line was very good
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Beezle – I like your ratio of OMG saves to WTF goals. That’s going to be a future ongoing review paragraph….
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I disagree mightily on Clendening. He’s Diaz.
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But great job, as usual. And thank you.
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To me, something strange with Grabner (beepbeep, as per wicky). He’s fast as the wind, has decent size, good hands, good instincts, is the ONLY player ever in the NHL ever to score twice shorthanded on the same 2 minute penalty, yet he he has enough tattoos to be called The Illustrated Man, has had only one season that could be called ‘good,’ and has bounced around quite a bit for his age. There’s a scent in the air of something or other.
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Diaz was never gerundive.
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One thing I failed to include in the review was the fact that salmon Joe were watching a completely different game than I was. The early first period CBJ PP’s had the Rangers in the box on separate occasions for 2. That is, 4 non continuous minutes. The entire combined 4 minutes were spent attacking and swarming Hank. The Rangers had No clear, no icing, and couldn’t get a change it seemed for about a minute +. Amazing that CBJ didn’t score as there were chance. Joe come on and says excellent penalty killing!! SAY WHAT? It by the grace of God the Jackets fm didn’t score. Joe is one goofy dude. Tho, he did like Foligno’s big thighs. Definetly a thigh man I’d say.
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A kiss is just a kiss, a thigh is just a thigh. The world will always welcome lovers (as time goes by)
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Doodie – he has much more snarl than Diaz. And given the crap fest that has become Girardi and Klein, can’t see a reason not to play the Gerund. Give the kid a chance. Playing what? 12 games this year if that? He’s looked to fit in well with the rest of the garbage in out back end.
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SalmonJoe, while personable, are dishonest, unreliable troubadours when it comes to MSG.
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Methinks Dave Maloney knows the road to success around Dolan is to paint a perpetual rosy picture, but he just can’t help himself from (usually) telling the truth.
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OMG!
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The Miracle Met is much much better than Diaz. In fact, he’s also better than G and K at this point and probably Staal as well.
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Gerund for Norris!!!
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Chris Berman stayed 5 years too many. so happy he is being moved out to pasture. espn is a joke
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FWIW, Grabber finished top 5 in ES goals and SH goals in 10-11, pretty impressive.
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SN – soludarity – ESPN is where inane dudes think they are all a comedic genius. Corny, moronic, and idiotic is what they really are. Total **** show.
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ESPN IS a joke. (Berman went to Hackley, SN.) Local boy. Well-liked, but his lame shtick grew old.
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Ever wonder what Nieves sees when he looks into his Cristoval?
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Methinks somebody needs to re-read if he/she thinks what I wrote was “dissing” Lundqvist.
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Back back back back back back back back back back back you get the idea
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Ricardo – please stop dissing Hank. Thank you
The Staff
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Not sure when Staal returns but when he does the team has a good problem on its hands: which of the seven D to start. Good on Clendening for creating the problem, creating some competition.
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What’s Staal got, a shuffleboard blister?
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Holden has really worked out to be a really niec surprise. Mustache and all.
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Nowenta Holden
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Nowenta Foldem
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The president of ESPN is speaking in my hometown this month, on civility in sports and in life in general. This is the guy who hired, as Phil Mushnick calls him, Ray “where’s my blood-soaked white suit” Lewis. Among many other cretins.
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I will say this about Berman: corny as he could be, that Sunday night NFL highlight show he used to do with Tom Jackson was one of the best pure sports shows ever. Pre-NFL Network, Red Zone Channel and the internets, of course.
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Disney made a yuge mistake involving themselves with the likes of ESPN. Yuge.
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Ray Lewis could slice thru any offensive line and make a stab at getting the RB
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Spermen Bermen
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Ray Lewis could cut thru 2 lineman and make the play. He carved himself quite a career.
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I cut out the NBA years ago. One of these days I will watch the NFL no more. I feel it coming.
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I can feel it coming in the air tonight – hold on…
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Sadly, I agree coos.
Awesome GIF, SN. Where do you find this stuff?
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Same here Kooz – haven’t watched a regular season NBA game in about 2o years. Once the finals start – maybe a game here and there….
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I really like that I can “like” your posts now. YUGE improvement
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ESPN – Espousing Supercilious Political Nonsense
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Headzo – might go Bloody Mary for the GMEN game
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ESPN – enlightened Sports professionals NOT
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ESPN……..I must admit that seeing reports of their ratings dropping make me smile. The parade of cretins that they have hired to work there is only part of the reason. Their shameless self promotion at every turn is nauseating. This garbage about “first reported by CBS sports and confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter” is really pathetic. Of course, they used to simply take credit for Blews broken by others, so maybe this is progress. Their involvement in politics is also unnecessary and irritating. Forgive me if I would like to see highlights and sports news absent of the social justice stuff. Now they have done some good things, like the V Foundation. But their arrogance has resulted in new all-sports networks popping up and taking market share from them.
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I could dig bringing up Graves for a look-see.
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Good morning, boneheads!
I have to say this: e3, I really admire your ability to put a game review on a short notice, with very little time, and do it on THIS level. I always look forward to your reviews. Kudos!
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Once the ESPN studio hacks thought they were comedy gold and cared more about their lame image than the game/event they were supposed to cover – it was ova
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I want to hear Mike Emrick say, “shoveled beyond the blue line by Graves.”
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I only watched 7 min of the second and the whole 3rd period. Reason? Had to DVR it again. Apparently Fios was airing the Devils instead of NYR. WTB? By the time I realized it and went live, it was already deep into 2nd.
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Tomb likes Graves, too.
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Ilb – thank you for your kind words. That’s very sweet of you. As a faithful reader of Ricardo, I learned a little about his craft. I’ve got so much more to learn and I love writing these reviews. I’ve come to appreciate even more what he did day in and night out as he’s the MASTER. Carp more than any sports writer I’ve read injects his articles with much more than game facts. He gives his analysis which is always clever, humorous, and highly informational.
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When I was growing up we would get tours of the ESPN studios in Bristol. It was really cool. But the station has fallen apart. Their hockey coverage is horrific. Almost as bad as Sports Illustrated. And the game shows they have during happy hour are just awful.
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They still make pretty hilarious commercials though.
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E3 – got some shiner bock lights chilling oututside (in texas believe it or not) for the battle.
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Shiner Bock is good stuff. I enjoyed their “Shiner Bock Light” when I was in Texas.
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Hank deserves a lot of credit for last night. 4 to 1, and he held it there. No comeback without him. Last night was an example of what a few of us have been referring to with Hank.he needs to make the big save at the big time. To many times the Rangers have scored to cut the lead only to have Hank give it right back. Last night he shut it down.
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except he was fairly responsible for the CBJ lead.
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Good afternoon all! Mother hartneller I am so pissed I couldn’t get the game last night, though I’m pretty sure I heard all your screams down here. E3, points for the literary can-based review.
SN, thank you SO much for your, um, facts about Grabner….
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And what’s with the no games for almost a week????
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Carp,
Sometimes a 4 to 1 game, is just that, and sometimes the team pushes back and gets back in the game. When that happens, Hank needs to hold them there, regardless of how he played previous. Much like Grant Fuhr used to.
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I’m feeling like it’s going to be a lot of bourbon this afternoon for the Giants game
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Manny – The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol when they do the Bristol Stomp.
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Stomp the yard!
I’m with you, Rob. I’ve got my Valium all lined up.
345:2
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“How special is this game for you?”
“Very special.”
“But how special?”
“I told you, very special.”
“But can you be more specific? How special?”
“Big time, you know?”
“But what do you mean, big time?”
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Lazy slugs getting another week off? National Pansies League.
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Another inane example of why the Cup finals are played mid-summer on sludge.
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Re ESPN…agree re the berman/Jackson highlight show, it was hilarious. I also loved their hockey coverage bitd. Clément/Thorne are still probably my all time favourite hockey game calling tandem south of the border (levy/pang a close second). Also enjoyed the nightly hockey wrap up show with buccigross, who has a very good hockey IQ.
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One word re: ESPN hockey
Melrose
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This team is perfect, gorton should not touch a thing. Teams wear astronaut diapers when they play us because they fear this team as it is currently constituted. All teams beg for clemency for their fans sake…let them win a game against the rangers (as the rangers have generously let some teams do). This perfection must not be tinkered with at all!!
Signed,
NORMstradamus
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Reporter : tell me about that last game winning play
Stud athlete : you know what I’m sayin?
Reporter: but could you be more specific?
Stud athlete : yeah, you know it was serious. You know what I’m sayin?
Reporter: not really. All you’re sayin is know what I’m sayin
Stud athlete: aight, know what I’m sayin!!
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Melrose, Duguay, Hank: who wins the Oscar for best Hair?
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The Dolphins defense is pretty horrific.
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Hank wins. His hair is beautiful.
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Clement Clement hands of cement.
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Generally speaking, I’d rather have a team that starts soft and ends strong than the other way around. That said, it would be better for everyone’s BP if the Rangers could get the jump more often.
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Hank, his hair is perfect
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Duguay is really really pretty.
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I saw Hank with a Chinese menu in his hand, walking thru the streets of Soho in the rain.
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Maybe with BoBo playing last night, the game ends 4-0 or 4-1…but I can’t see how cbj is leading the league…good team yes, playing hard for Torts yes, but not historic pace and 115 points good
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Great review E3 loved it! I must eat crow again as I expected the real good thrashing by the Jackets to continue after period one. I was amazed how they took over the third! I don’t think torts and co. thought they had it in them. I think I am going to turn over a new leaf and be positive about our boys the rest of the way!
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Start slow by showing up during games they are winning
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My take on Columbus (not that anyone cares) is they won 16 games in a row. They either beat lesser teams as they should, beat teams they shouldn’t have, or did some of both and had some puck luck along the way (my pick is this one). Any way you slice it though, credit where credit is due. I’d expect a let down once they lost, and they had their streak broken by the caps, started their back up the next game and list to us…so there you go. They haven’t won anything yet (neither has any other team including the rangers), but they don’t suck either.
–
The bjs have a good starter (he’s good so far this year anyhow), some talented young players, a group of younger old players (and fartsmell) who play a north south game, a coach who can motivate players (until they tune him out eventually…whenever that may be), and play a game that seems suited for the playoffs.
–
Not sure I’d pick them to win it all by any means, but I don’t think I’d want to play them in a first round series.
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CBJ beats pens in 7
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E3
I wouldn’t disagree with that
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I think the Rangers could take the BJ’s in a 7 game series – as long as Hank plays well. Doesn’t necessarily need to be best player on ice every game; but if he can make the routine saves and a few biggies, Ranger would take out Columbus. Penguins however….
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When we get our guys back and start possessing the puck more, with a few more shots actually hitting the net, no one will stop us. Zib will be thankful for the sabbatical
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Zucc and Pirri for Lucic.
Fast, Ribbit, and Jensen for E. Kane
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Green Bay current tem is 12F, with wind chill 1F. Expected to drop.
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Best seat in the house is on the couch in front of the tv
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Sorry
Second best seat in the house
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The top 4 teams in the metro are really close imho…at least on paper. You’d think we’d have the best starting goalie, (right as of this second I think he is 4 out of 4) and second best goalie tandem(which is where I would rank them 2 out of 4). Our D corps on paper should be the best but I think overall it’s 3 out of 4. Top to bottom with skill, our forwards (when healthy) are 2 out of 4, physicality and edge we are 4 out of 4. Coaching…I rank us in a tie for second or last since I have 3 coaches tied for various reasons). Intangibles, i have us in a tie for 2nd with one team ahead, and one team behind.
–
Again, just my thoughts at this very moment and depending on any injuries to teams and right after trade deadline is probably the best time to make accurate guesses 😉
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If Lucic had played for the Fighting Irish, would he then be The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
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Meanwhile at the e3 crib, it be 66F slight rain falling. We have windows open and the breeze feels coolio Julio.
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Lucic – “Kooz If I ever meet you I’ll rip your lungs out and blow a bubble with them”
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Me and Julio down by the schoolyard
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Great review, E3. That first period and first part of the second were just butt ugly. Glad I had it on DVR. Fast forwarded to third. But once they got it to 4-2 I was hooked. Could really feel the momentum change and the boys really turned it on. Good for them. (But I’m with Norm: I’d like to see them start stronger more often. Please!) Watching the post-game, anyone hear Duguay say he had stopped watching and was watching the Knicks in the studio?! Priceless!
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Best seat in my house is my leopard print can.
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Monk = Wacko
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Boneheads: as a public service, here’s LaGreca and Maloney’s call of the winning goal. Hysterical. Literally. 🙂 https://www.sny.tv/rangers/news/the-msg-radio-call-of-grabners-game-winning-goal/213077336
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Ijre – that third period was quite exciting. Great comeback. Not often can a team come back from 3. The dreaded two goal lead is surmountable, 3 goal lead? Not so much!!
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Eddie, great review! And can u delete my previous comment?
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James browns hairline looks like the tide coming In
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James Brown, James Brown.
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John Travolta spray paints his lil weave.
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I’m getting my game day jitters. Better drink a glass of vodka.
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Fish getting embarrassed on national TV. Hope the Gmen have a better showing
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I picked a hell of a day to stop sniffing glue
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Happiness is a warm gun
(Bang bang shoot shoot)
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Carp, I said you dissed Hank because you dissed Hank. “Mediocre” – “needs to have the 1st one, period” – “responsible for CBJ lead”. I could go on. My point was not
that Hank had a stellar game. My point was he had zero help
from the team on any of those goals and 2 of them were off egregious turnovers and 1 on a perfectly executed PP where he had no chance. Could he have saved goals 1 and 4? Of course. But should he always be under siege? I don’t think so. And after the 4th goal he
made some “big, timely saves” to hold the fort especially on Jones. I’m not willing to write off Hank or his season in the 1st week of January. My bet is that his stats come back to career numbers as we progress and as for wins? Well he already has 18. And yes wins are a “team” stat, but in my eyes GAA and SV% are also driven by what the guys in front of you are doing on the ice.
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E3’s clean slate = fresh role of TP
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Don’t know if anyone corrected you yet or not, E3, but Clendening’s pp goal wasn’t a low shot into a crowd but a snipe up top.
🙂
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Save percentage not so much, Sittoo.
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You’re right Evrockriser. Still betting he reverts to norm of .920 or thereabouts before the season is done. Especially if the boys continue to allow a lot of shots on goal! He rocks those 40+ save games…😉
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E3 that was my ratio quote about Hank lol. And Beezle, those Chicago teams that won with Crawford were deep. And Beezle, those average goalies weren’t letting up “wtf goals” in route to their championships. Plus idk who these very average goalies are that have won in recent years. Crawford? who has two of the best Dmen in the league in front of him? because I certainly would not call Quick or Murray average. And if they are they sure didn’t play like it in the post season. Tim Thomas was average but he played like he was one of the best goalies in the world during that playoff run.
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Sam Rosen reads only high-brow publications.
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With the deadline so far away, I’d like to see how the Nash-Jensen, Zibanejad-Hrivik, and Buchnevich-Pirri trades work out. I’m sure Gorton will always seek an upgrade if one presents itself, but kudos to AV and the Hartford guys for keeping things relatively stable while the Rs hope to get that amazing October roster back together.
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If somebody would only teach me how to read I’d be all set.
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Eli 34-33, 602 yards and 11 Tds.
GMEN 80
Pack Rats 0
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Giants-Packers. It’s Go Time!
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EV – thanks, it looked low at first but it rose up and went in high.
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Let’s go GMEN!!!!!
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E3 said rose up & went high
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Headzo – when I lay back, it looks like a goal post.
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Let’s get it ON
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Sittoo, if you’re happy with the way Lundqvist has played this season, then good for you. If you think he should not have stopped that first shot, again, then good for you again. Enjoy.
I never disrespect Lundqvist, if that’s what “diss” means. So don’t claim I did.
I hated Thorne on hockey — screaming mis-pronunciations of every name and at high volume. And Melrose, who worked a little harder than Duguay and thought he could just spout anything that popped into his head. Still does.
Pittsburgh over CBJ in 5.
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E3, I’d like to split Erin’s uprights
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A day later that Klein giveaway doesn’t get any better. Worse, actually
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Wow. Manning good, o-line good. Beckham, their best player, kills the drive.
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Maybe OBJ should have kept his shirt in during pregame
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Bieber curse on OB Jr.
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Headzo – I, too, would tap that
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When did every DB start reacting to every pass defended like it was the winning play in the SB? 7-8 years ago? They are idiots. Almost NBA-Esque
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Watching this game in the cold…my nipples are rock hard.
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I’d go for Erin just to up my weird looking hot chick game
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FG
The Klein giveaway was egregious
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Klein should be investigated for point shaving
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It was like he was filming a hockey movie and the director yelled NOW
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Beckham should have that
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Beckham killing the Giants. So weird.
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Manning on fire. Receivers not so much.
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GMEN moving the ball with ease. The points will come. Time for the defense to get the first turnover of the game. GMeeeeeeeeeeeeN
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Manning with a not-good completion percentage, nothing to do with him.
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Can’t stand that Chevy truck dork. I used to beat up nerds like that in school
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Are you kidding me with these effing commercials?
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Jenkins bonehead and not in the good way
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Dumb play by Jenkins there.
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So far, Gints hugely disciplined on the pass rush.
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I shoveled my driveway wearing a short sleeved tee shirt to intimidate anyone driving by. I’m almost dead, but I showed them I don’t give a sheet. Chumps.
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Flowers with his usual early contribution
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Giants running game, lol. What a shock.
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Jennings should never be given a handoff
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Sadly my NFL interest is completely gone with the raiders loss yesterday.
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Brilliant play calling, wot?
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I love commercials. Should be 3 or 4 after every play.
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That commercial with the bugs in the hair is disgusting eww
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Never thought the rush would touch him, much less sack him. C’mon offense, move it!
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What’s the over/under on Troy Aikman saying Eli Manning, two twelve? How about Eli or Manning?
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Giants the better team so far but need to start scoring some points
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Nice pass defense by Shepard. Oh wait, he’s the offensive guy.
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Aikman’s contempt for the giants is palpable in everything
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Don Draper is pretty
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More commercials. Probably have time to take a bath and not miss anything.
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Nothing to show for early offensive show. Killer drops by Beckham and Shep, Packers appear to have adjusted. Up to the D to win the game now, as usual. Can’t see them shutting down Rodgers forever.
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Ache Man and Joe Buck make want to gouge my ears with a knife. Such cowboy homers
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Stay down, Nelson.
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Take a seat jordy. You’re done
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WTF am I gonna read for the next 5 coffee mornings?
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Broken ribs
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Defense and Eli came to play
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Winning everything but the punt game. Here come three lie-downs from Jennings, hope he doesn’t fumble.
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Nobel, I’ll pen more genius before the leaves game. For me, brilliant prose oozes out of my pours like garlic after a great meal. It’s in my Dee and Hey. Even my mispelled works and poor grammar are indicative one owning and IQ in the 500 range.
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Jennings!!!???
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Good lord.
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Eli almost down to the 20 yard line, just where the defense wants him.
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Tie a yellow ribbon
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Tye would have had a TD if he had Kreider speed
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100% interference. But a “good no-call” in the booth. Beckham prevented from catching the ball by a guy with his back to the throw. Homer call, part of being the road team.
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That’s Gould Jerry, Gould!
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Me thinks too many points left on the table in the first half
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Correctamundo, Norm.
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E3 you ever do the Lam-bo dump?
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Sweet, your prose, takes extra moment to take in sometimes.
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Giants O is pathetic. Was supposed to be our strength.
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That should be grounding
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If George Gordon Lord Byron played football, Aikman would call him George Gordon Lord Byron ninety seven times a quarter.
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Refs have their homer hats on all right. Had to talk it over to see if that was intentional grounding. Nobody on that side of the field.
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Headzo – I squeezed a fudge Packer this morning that was given a flag for pass interference.
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cops, does Manning suck yet, or are you working your way up to that? 🙂
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Giants D reminds me of the shutdown Ranger D
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Maybe Harris should call for a fair catch some time or just get out of the way. Makes me nervous inside the 10
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This sure isn’t regular season Eli.
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Cops! Freudian mistake or autocorrect, coos?
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Rob – I hear you re: those punts.
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Getting killed on punts.
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Gurney count favoring the Gmen
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Green Bay has done almost nothing on offense, about to take the lead.
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That was inevitable
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How wasn’t there a holding call on that TD?
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Rodgers is absurdly talented.
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Two minute Eli let’s go
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Great first half, but the receivers and the punter have cost them dear.
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Passing game is working Ben. Throw the ball
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As long as the refs let the GMEN O line hold every play, I don’t mind that the Packers aren’t called. But that’s me…
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Paging Odell Beckham Junior you are needed at Lambeau Field
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I wont attack Odell, like the talentless hack journalists, for his Miami vacation.
I will though for his dropped passes. He is too unreliable. 2 for him. And 2 more for Sterling.
Cant keep putting the game in the hands of the defense. Over and over again.
Game over.
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Wow. Just wow. It’s not so much not trying to score there as giving the ball back to Rodgers. Rainey!?
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Carp, I should not have used “diss” because I agree you are not disrespectful to Hank or anyone else. So accept my apologies for that terminology. And no, I don’t think Henrik has had a stellar season, but I do think that a lot of the so-called soft goals are not in actuality all that soft. I’d like to see some better defensive play in front of him before I start thinking he is mediocre or in decline. All that being said, I truly enjoy all of your insights even when I might not agree with them. But I in no way delude myself that I have a fraction of the knowledge that you have about any of the blueshirts. Thanks for taking the time
to read and respond to the comments.
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Unbelievable
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I hate the prevent defense SO MUCH.
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Eli to Hakeem payback
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Carp – stop disrespecting Hank or I’ll ban you!
The staff.
I’m sick to my stomach after that first half.
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Their straight-up D is as good as anyone’s, so I know: stop pressuring Rodgers, give him easy yards and a Hail Mary attempt and give the game away before the half. Now Manning will have to chase the game, odds-on favorite to be the goat. The coaches should apologize to the players at the half. Except Beck, Shep and Wing.
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How in the hell do you let him come down with that?
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We established the run in the first half, let Eli play
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FREE ELI
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Indeed E3. Manning has to be frustrated in that locker room right now. They offense needs to make something happen early. Rogers firing on all cylinders now. Should have been 17-14 giants at worst right now
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Eli is this season little more than a mediocre QB. The coaching staff and play-calling sucks except for Spagnola and even he looked like an ass on that last play.
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And If this game end with Odell crying like a chump I swear I may punch a baby
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Eli is zoned in. Odel will be the second half hero.
I see dead people.
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E3 I have fully and completely recanted my “Carp dissing Hank” comment! I will never again utter the term “diss” and I swear I will stop defending Hank against any and all criticism from Carp and everyone else for that matter. I will very quietly and meekly request a tiny bit more of competent defensive play in front of the King’s crease (or behind it for that matter). Very truly yours, Sittoo
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sure hope so. Need to keep their composure and make plays
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I see interceptions as Manning is forced to take chances, and then the loss gradually becoming his fault, despite having been the Gints’ best player by a mile this half.
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If they lose this game the criticism goes to Beckham. Can’t drop balls in the end zone in the playoffs
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Sitto – I’m all for trading Hank for Drew Doughty – straight up.
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I am still sick to my stomach from that TD
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E3 😡
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Oh my god
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Ditto – just kidding. I’d add Stepan and ask for Kopitar 😳
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This is the drive. Can’t put it off with Rodgers on the other sideline.
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Gints had better hurry up and get themselves a talented young QB for the future. For consecutive seasons, they have been one nagging or serious injury to Eli away from ignominy.
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How can this guy Flowers still be here? Embarrassment all season.
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I smell a turnover.
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Won’t you come to San Francisco. And Wear some flowers in your hair.
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Cops, it is a small miracle Eli hasn’t been hurt yet
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Coos! Dumb autocorrect
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Coos I’ve been texting it to my father for 45 mins now. The guy is about as mobile as a beached whale with arthritis. Killing us
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E3 – an Apple turnover?
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Can’t take much more of this. I need to be held and told it’s okay
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And while Flowers has been trash, they found themselves a player in Landon Collins
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Land In Kull Ins will recover a fumble very soon. I fast forwarded the game.
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Odell and sterling need to make amends. And ye right soon.
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Hard count
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Help us Odell Beckham Jr. you’re our only hope.
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I’ve been called a cop twice today. 🙂
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Dumb play call. Giants ball!
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If I’m the owner, I fire the coach right now, escort him off the field!
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Big Ben and his conservative approach
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Let’s end the first down running play. The pack secondary can be had.
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Manning sucks.
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Get a left tackle and let Eli call his own plays!
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Hey, that pass was almost a dead duck. Face facts.
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Snacks!
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Should have gone for 2
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Big Blue with the supposed vaunted offense put up their usual 13 points heading into the fourth quarter.
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Fat bastid McAdoo on the sidelines, hiding behind his oversized waterproof waffle menu.
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Good call
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All these useless tight ends we have who can’t catch, can’t run a pattern, and can’t block. We could use a fullback, which we no longer have to pump the running game.
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Gints’ special teams coach sneaking off behind the bench, frantically sending out resumes. They are getting HAMMERED today.
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C’mon, coos, make it Manning’s fault–you can do it!
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Nodt going for 2 now puts us 2 scores behind.
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I am glad they lost. The Giants deserved every bit of this loss. One Giant indictment of the poor coaching. And while McAdoo consistently displayed a set of balls during the regular season, he was sacless in this game.
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There’s the moron Eli we’ve come to love
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Why, oh, why is Jennings in this game?
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Manning’s TD pass to a rookie, alone by 15 yards was almost terminally mis-thrown. I’ll take it, but I saw it.
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Shotgun draw. That must be a new play. Never have seen that before. Except for the ******* 10 billion times they’ve run it.
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The chart exists for a reason. Mac-a-Doo and Troy are wrong for saying it was right to kick a field goal
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Still running the ball? LOL
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Indeed. Eli’s meds have worn off & is now mouth breathing again
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Attaboy, e3! Here comes the Manning-goat narrative. Did you see the dopey look on his face? 🙂
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Is Olivia Munn, Aaron’s beard at the game?
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Beckham should have had that too
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Beckham can-not-catch today. Shame. Perfect throw.
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Punting the ball again. Managing the margin of defeat.
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Beckhams first playoff game not going so well
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Norm – who do you blame that delay of game penalty on? It sure wasn’t my fault.
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Aaron’s beard, lol. Wasn’t Munn Secretariat’s one-time squeeze?
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Bieber curse.
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Norm – the ole delay of game on Eli was a popular play for a long time!!!
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Perfect throw my azz. Should have been caught, but perfect pass? Uhuh. Nope. No can do.
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No holding calls or pass interference on Pack
Weird
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How many TD catches for the Yacht Diva so far?
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Work it, e3, work it. That was the play that the Gs the game. 🙂
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*that cost*
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Sittoo, no need to apologize. I think I defend Lundqvist as much as anybody, and certainly respect him. But I think he needs to be a lot better than he’s been this season. And the Ranges are going nowhere if he isn’t.
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D getting shredded. They were excellent for long stretches, but did give up 21 easy points.
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Norm dissing on Jennings. Sounds racist.
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WHAT BS!! Am obvious fumble.
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I want to rip off Joe Bucks head and slam Troy in the face with it
Carry on
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Joe Buck – “yes, look his knee hit the ground” hey Buck take Troy’s schlontz out of your yapper and watch the game.
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“Whistle blew because of forward progress stymie. BS. Total.
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I’ll bet anyone hear anything that Buck is wearing fur chaos in the booth and Aikman hovers nearby to help with his mic.
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It could be reviewed if the ruling was that his knee hit. Obviously, the call was not that his knee hit the ground.
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coos, if Beckham had kept running under that perfectly thrown ball, he’d still be running. Just not his day. Guy’s an absolute monster–this game is going to be a pride-crusher for him, will be interesting to see how he responds next year.
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Fur chaps ^^
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Death,where is thy sting?
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This game is Ova
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Go empty net.
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Go empty net. Oh well
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Rodgers is really good at football. Giants needed to play a perfect game against him. Didn’t. 28 easy points.
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Rogers outplaying Eli by a large margin, no doubt.
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Hail Mary was the end of it.
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Not even sure JPP would have made a difference here. Let’s go Rangers!
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Here it comes, Rodgers was great, Manning sucked. The power of the desired narrative rears its predictable (and predicted) head!
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Eli is good if he has lots of time. He had an excellent first half. His receivers let him down. Odell needs to play bigger if he wants to be such a diva. Sterling had some bad drops too.
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More evidence of poor coaching. Nobody went after it. Wanna punt the ball away again Ben?
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Giants asleep at the wheel on that one, as so many have been today.
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Book the pretty boys a flight back to Miami.
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A flock of goats today: Rainey, Beckham, Sheppard, Wing, Apple, the entire coaching staff. It’s probably already forgotten how much the Giants dominated that first half and came out down by 8.
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I was eating dinner for awhile, but man it was upsetting that nobody went for that possibly live ball. Tough to cheer for this team after that.
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Norm – agreed. GB was dominated and yet the half ended down by 8. Sad!
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Sad!
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Wing’ Wang was the only thing colder than his left foot. Brutal day punting the ball.
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Wing’s wang ^^^
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Eli played well. This was not his fault. He showed up big time. The Divas let him down.
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Eli was not the goat
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4 TDs. Needed – plenty of time
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Time for a shot gun draw
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How’s Miami at this time of year??
What a friggin joke.
Where was the NYPD???
Lmfao.
And I’m a Giants fan.
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Lose their best cover man in first play of game and then Pack adjusts at half and exploits Middle of field.
.
NFL looking for Brady v Rogers
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Wack Pack have always been my 2nd team.
Packers 27
Patriots 13
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New handle for the author: Ha-Ha E3-Dix
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Packers certainly deserved this one, but they didn’t need so much help! And THERE’S THE PICK. Inevitable.
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Rooting for the Pack the rest of the way. Rodgers is something else.
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For the record, I don’t give a crap about the Miami boat takes
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Please beat the Cowboys
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Go Pack Go
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The Rangers divas took a day off during the Cup Finals in 2014 to hit the beach and go biking…
I don’t remember any hack “journalist” complaining then. However, there is one notable difference between the 2 groups of players involved besides the different sports that they play.
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The difference being a boat and a bike?
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Sure Monk,
And Tony Romo and his crowd did not get roasted for there trip in 2007. Race baiting at its best.
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Isn’t Romo part Mexican? 🙂
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Grabner by the p***y
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😑
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In another 11 days, President Elect Trump is going to grab America by the pu**y.
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Idgit
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Trump has a little PP.
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Seemed like a pretty big power play to me.
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Good morning, boneheads!
Sounds like it’s a good thing I don’t follow football. I feel for you, guys. And that’s just from reading your comments.
So what are we going to talk about for the next 5 days? Line combos?
Going back to Columbus game. Hank let a questionable one, no doubt ( again, and it’s a worrisome pattern), but at the end he largely outplayed McElhinney, who was horrible. Not sure they win this one with Bobrovsky in net.
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In case you haven’t seen it, Patrik Laine was hit hard, and is out with concussion.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/patrik-laine-destroyed-on-hit-line-brawl-ensues-vs-sabres-video-205247496.html
Clean hit, open ice, Laine was not paying attention, and it looks like most of the damage was done by his head hitting the ice. I know all of that. But the question is- do we really want that? We are talking about highly skilled, young player, who could be a star in this league for years. Who know what this concussion may lead to eventually. It’s a part of the game, no doubt. But is this really good for hockey?
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The hit didn’t seem that bad to me. Looks like their heads collided, unfortunately. I personally would advocate for the hip check to the midsection which inflicts the pain without the head involved. FWIW, didn’t seem like his head hit the ice on replay.
.
Nice to see the Jets rally behind their young star. If it was NYR, a couple of forceful shoves and some angry sideways glances would have been the result…
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Are we taking hitting out of the league? Clean hit. Keep your head up kid!
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SN,
And then a victory.
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We are not, BDL. At least I hope so. Discussion purposes only. But ask his mother what she thinks.
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She thinks, I’m rich! My son is a hockey player! These players all know the risk. And even wiyh knowing the risk, they are out there playing hard. I am of the opinion that the NFL, and NHL will be unreconizable in 10 years. The NHL will eventually take open ice hitting out of the game, and will create some sort of rule along the boards as to where yo can, and where you can’t make a check.
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Let’s keep his mom out of this. We all know he is the love child of ScarJo and Teemu Selanne
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Interesting article by LB on what this team will have to do to protect players they want to protect from expansion:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/09/each-goal-by-rangers-revelation-is-an-expansion-draft-headache/
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Morning
Two things…thanks ilb for bringing up laine. I brought him up twice this weekend and got crickets. I think the damage was done by face to face contact, not the ice. Clean hit.
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I was unaware pending Ufa players are not eligible for the expansion draft. I would think a smart team would trade for a quality ufa or two this deadline with the agreement they will re-sign the player after the expansion draft.
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So it is likely that Raanta, Grabner and Klein will be left exposed. The Rangers will lose one of them. Right now Grabner looks like the most attractive choice for Vegas unless they decide Auntie is one of the goalies they want to pick. At $1.65 Million Grabner is a helluva bargain next year. Can they trade him after the season to someone who has space to protect him and get something for him? Their forward depth means they will have to expose a pretty good player. I don’t see one of the other guys they may want to expose. They voted for expansion to take the money. This is the price they pay.
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I have a question for one of the real smart guys here…if a player waives a nmc for a trade to a team, does that nmc kick back in with the new team or is it gone for good?
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GMEN 24
Dallas 0
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To follow up on the 2nd part of my 10:04 post…why not trade Klein to a team with a righty ufa to be D man that is appealing to the rangers (ie will contribute to the rangers now and in the future) and the other team has the ability to protect Klein in the expansion draft and wants him and his reasonable cap hit on their roster next season (not necessarily an ideal trade chip with his play this season, I know). Again, this is simply an example, but you guys get my drift…Klein in some sort of deal for gudbranson (calm down some of you, just an example) from Vancouver.
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I’m not sure what’s better. Not making the NFL playoffs for 4 or 5 years in a row or making it and looking out coached, out smarted and out played. Build an offensive line and stop leaning on a kid that doesn’t know how to handle pressure.
Back to hockey- Why leave Grabner exposed over someone like Fast? strategist theory- No one will want Fast and he’s much more replaceable. If not him then Lindberg.
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I agree with everyone that Klein’s turnover on the third goal was horrible but no one asks why Adam “Bobby Orr” Gerund is up Klein’s ass so much that he is completely out of the play.
Beware of what you ask for in terms of him getting more and more playing time. There are reasons why guys are spare players or platoons players in baseball. The more they play, the more their shortcomings are exposed. It is also why if Gorton doesn’t think he pull a top four d-man out of his hat at the deadline, he should look to add a better 6th/7th d-man so AV will give the vets some time off – whether they are struggling or not.
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Wick, I think the time to trade Klein for something of value has come and gone. His stock has really plummeted this season. If they trade him it wont be for much and I think they’d rather keep him for another “run” than trade him for a late pick in the draft or another teams 6th/7th
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Anthony, in theory you’re absolutely right, but because our coach is who he is, there’s not much of a chance that anyone in a 6/7 spot would earn trust over the current crop
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I think a lot depends on Ryan Graves too. Either he or Skeji are the dmen who could draw a decent return even if it takes packaging one of them with a forward or a pick. I’m not saying that’s what they SHOULD do, just that they’re not going to get a quality top 4 guy straight up for anyone else. Maybe Staal if you eat salary
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JamesG – Good point, but perhaps there is someone that AV likes and would be available – I am guessing a former Canuck blueliner that was coached by Double-Bubble.
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Congratulations to Michael Grabner on his hat trick on Saturday night – sorry Gerund!
NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL 27m27 minutes ago
OFFICIAL SCORING CHANGE: Game #598 @NYRangers at @BlueJacketsNHL. Goal at 12:57 of 3rd period now reads Grabner from Clendening & Lindberg.
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Is that beepbeep’s second hattie?
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That’s probably realistic. I just don’t know how much of an upgrade they’ll get by trading middle of the pack for middle of the pack. No secret that this blueline needs to be rebuilt or “retooled” with some younger effective guys.
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Torts put the goalie who hacked up Saturday’s game on waivers. So long McGillicuddy.
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McAdoo was outcoached because the receivers can’t hang onto the ball and his KO return guy goes out of bounds at the 3? I don’t see where the coach made a big difference in the game. It’s on the players – even that short yardage run to Rainey. Was it a bad call or bad execution?
If you can only protect 7 forwards Fast and Lindberg are not part of the 7. If you want to protect Grabner you’re going to have to expose somebody like Stepan or Zuccarello. I wouldn’t want to be the person who makes that decision.
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That’s his second, Carp. Still in disbelief. Guy had 29 goals in his last 178 games before becoming a Ranger. He’s got 19 now. And as a bonus he’s replaced Hagelin’s speed and helped the PK turn a 180 from last year.
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Carp, his last name is too annoying to spell out. Just call him Beachball
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beeepbeep, lol
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Still don’t get it. beepbeep’s 29, has knocked around, plays for Glass money. What’s hidden among all of this hoopla that we haven’t seen yet?
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No way Dallas beats the GMEN next week.
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Gerund will be in the Norris trophy conversation / book it.
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55F and rain. Lovely day to sit on the couch and stare out the window.
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Can’t see ODB JR dropping any next week.
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Is this thing on?
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I guarantee that if Grabner was playing the exact same way, but didn’t have so many goals, people here would be calling him useless and saying he should be waived or prucha’d.
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Odell what the hell, buy or sell, Norman Fell, stir and jell, Bobby Bell, William Tell, scream and tell, Allen Mel, death knell, oh well
Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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don’t remember if Mike Gartner was on the pk but are Grabby and Garty similar players?
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caveat of course is that Garty was obviously much better for longer at whatever he did
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coincidentally…
@NHLhistorygirl
Jan. 9, 1993: #NYR Mike Gartner became the first player in NHL history to get 25 goals in each of his first 14 seasons
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The Couch and Puree are useless. Ribbit and Jensen as well.
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Grabner so good he scores even when we don’t play.
Like Carp said the goalie put on waivers from Saturdays game.
Regarding expansion, there are circumvention rules in place from both sides. Vegas and other teams. Vegas has 2 day window before other teams to talk to ufas and rfas. If they sign one of those guys the other team doesn’t lose another player. If they wait and do a wink wink and later sign a guy that will be looked into. Same with the wink wink on a team agreeing to sign a ufa but not signing the guy yet to avoid having to protect him. Heavy penalties for that stuff.
Also on expansion teams do have to make 2 forwards, 1 defensemen and 1 goalie available who have met certain criteria. Years of service, games played and signed or offer tendered in case of rfa for the next year.
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Who is this beep beep guy and how did he get 19 goal?
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25 goals by 1/9..today that would net you $1 gajillion Canadian dollars
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Grabber has done great; playing with Miller and Haze hasn’t hurt him. The benefit of AV’s Top 9 strategy is a traditional bottom 6 forward is going to get more chances. This guy potted over 30 in a season before albeit 6 seasons ago. In Sept ’15 the Azzlanders traded him for 5 players coming off an injury shortened year.
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Skills are there and we let Hags go so tough decision to make. Beware of a long term deal like Pullout with the Earlers. Don’t forget he started his career in Vancouver playing for Bazooka Joe.
.
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New Post, it’s the most, I don’t boast, pot roast
Boyeeeeeee
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Anthony
Are you referring to bieksa?
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The hit was clean by today’s rules, and Laine, when he sees the video–probably doesn’t remember it–will likely say the same. It’s the sort of thing that will have some like me, who prefer to see the Laines of the world on the ice, hoping for a rules change. There’s not he can do to avoid it other than not look at the puck he’s trying to catch (I disagree that he wasn’t paying attention–he was paying perfect attention).
Others, like Wicky, I’m sure would like to keep big hits like that in the game (I’m not being flippant–just noting a difference in taste). It’s a real trade-off. You’re never going to remove concussions from the game, but I wonder if a “defenseless receiver” rule has been/will be considered.
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