Rangers 1, Maples Leafs 1. Then BCATHGE.

For the second game in a row, overtime ends in a wild and entertaining sequence before the game is ruined with the skills competition.

Bring back ties.

That ice was terrible and it made connecting passes difficult, but that doesn’t excuse some of the terrible passing decisions, particularly on the breakout, by the Rangers. Although that backhand pass by Zuccarello to Miller on his OT breakaway was absolute wizardry. For every bit as good as that pass was, Miller’s breakaway was bad.

HAV at it, boys. Next week we are going to have some gems from George Grimm.

I need a volunteer for a review on Saturday.

213 thoughts on “Rangers 1, Maples Leafs 1. Then BCATHGE.”

  2. First!

    The shootout is a disgrace and no way to end a game like that. Does anybody think that OT would have lasted 2-3 minutes longer? Why not just play 10 minutes of 3-on-3? Why not let them play until somebody scores? BCATHGE has to go!

    It’s a too bad J.T. didn’t finish on that pass from Zucc in OT, because if he did I think that would have been a play we would see in highlights for years and years.

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  3. Very good, entertaining game. A little bit too dramatic for my taste and health. Hank was a Hero again, minus habitual puck mishandling , adding to that health hazard. If number of created, unrealized scoring chances could be counted in any hockey statistics, Rangers undoubtedly would be ahead of any team in the League.

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  6. By my calculations :pulls out abacus: a 7 minute 3-on-3 OT is only 1 more player-minute than a 5 minute 4-on-4. And given that 3-on-3 OT tends to end quicker, it’s probably fewer player-minutes over the long haul than even 4-on-4 OT.

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  13. Good morning, boneheads!
    Greetings from sunny Boston!
    Did I just say that?
    Finished watching at around 1 am. This one should’ve been over by the end of period 1. They outplayed, and outclassed Toronto by a mile. Anderson was the difference. Toronto will be very good at some point, just give Babcock some time

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Let’s hope Klein comes back soon, I felt they just started to developing some solid D-pairing before his injury. Clendening is very weak in his own zone, and hasn’t shown much offensively. But I liked how they boxed out Toronto’s dangerous, skilled players.

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  21. Ilb hates Clendening. Thought he was more than adequate last night paired with Shea Butter.
    D issues were with Staal and HoldOn!
    D has looked better since Zika got his refs back – no coincidence…

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  26. For the record, I don’t blame him. One bad injury, and you’re babysitting your kids. Followed by your grandkids. Unless you like standing between benches in a cramped space next to Giannone. So it’s going to be 7 year ( 8 if it’s in St. Louis ), bonuses laden, lockout protected, with full NMC contract.

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  33. Worth noting, next time the Rangers’ struggling power play is summarized (2 for 48, whatever it is), that it has actually scored twice in the last three. First, Zibanajad’s vs. the Caps, called back by the absurd GDFOHE rule that is soon going to sports hell; then Miller’s last night, 2 seconds after the PP ended.

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  35. OT coaches’ contest – Two head coaches face one another at center ice like Sumo wrestlers and then charge each other and attempt to apply wedgie. 2 points. Total de-pantsing gleans 3 points instead of 2.

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  38. Shatty will not get a NYR offer unless they clear Girardi and/or Stall and/or move Step/Nash
    Either way, it will be a HUGE mistake.
    .
    Tony Yandle; 59 games – 3-28-31, +1 – $6,350, 000
    Shea Butter; 59 games – 2-26-28, +13 – $925,000
    .
    While yandlabra would be a big boost on PP, the money and the output is NOT worth it.

    Liked by 2 people

  41. Re Shatty: he has grossed $20,900,000 so far in his career. Let’s say he netted 50% of that after agent and taxes.
    With his next deal, would he rather play where he wants for $6M per or go to highest bidder for $7M per?
    The difference on a 6 year deal for a lesser amount is $6M gross/$3M net out of a gross career earnings of $56M++
    Would you move your family to Calgary for 6 years for an extra 10% of career earnings if you already netted $28M??
    This also does not include any endorsement deals.
    .
    Just don’t want him here. Look good with NJ.

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  45. Love to see Shattenkirk go to a tax free state. In other words not here. We don’t need a 3rd pair defensman and pp specialist making the kind of money he will. Not in a hard cap league with cap staying stagnant.

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  59. Colorado had Shattenkirk who they got Eric Johnson for so that was OK. They let O’reily go. They gave away Holden.

    They could have them all. I really like Zadorov.

    I like Shattenkirk, just not that much. I haven’t really watched him play since he was in Denver.

    Gorton won’t give up a defenseman for him.

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  60. It’s intriguing. The last 3-4 games, Skjei has clearly been promoted to third D-man and to the PP second shift (no mas Holden). I would have thought, based on the good defensive results, that the promotion has paid off. But perhaps they have indeed been showcasing him.

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  61. If I’m a player and I’m not headed for the Hall of Fame, I take the best money, the best years, a good team, and tax considerations especially if I’m making $7mil. in that order. Then I ask the wife if she’s coming or not.

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  73. Very small sample size regarding Skjei Norm. He plays more than several in 3 on 3 which is not normal hockey. He plays more pp but less pk than some others.

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  78. If it’s Skjei for Shattenkirk, it’s a big upgrade to the power play, where Shat does the majority of his scoring. Takes some pressure of McD, who would go to the second unit. It’s a potential steal for the Blues, but you have to give up to get.

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  81. Alex, got it. But just so that I get to say what I’m saying :), what I mean is that he’s been the #3, by the numbers, in the last 3-4 games. He and Staal are getting about the same even strength, Skjei is getting the #2 PP (Holden’s out), Staal the #4 PK. I you want to say he’s the #4, fine, but it’s a promotion/showcase all the same.

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  90. As you guys can tell, I have some free time (I finally graduated and right now am studying for NCLEX exam to get my nursing license) and chose to spend it with all of you! YAY! Aren’t you glad?!

    Liked by 1 person

  97. CCCP-Sharp plays with a bit of an edge and might help the power play. Wonder what he would cost?

    I like the idea of Brendan Smith. Good skater. Solid defensively. Might get an offensive boost coming into this system the way Holden and Kleiner did.

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  98. Since Dallas is selling, wouldn’t hurt to ask aboot Sharp. Always liked him. Has 3 cups. Could provide invaluable leadership needed for postseason.

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  108. Since we started some fruitless discussion about players whose name starts with “S” (i.e. trading away Skjei, Stepan, taking in Shattenkirk, Smith, and now Sharp), I would rather take Andrew Shaw and end this show (any possible pun intended).

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  111. Sharp also plays the point on the Power Play.

    Patrick Sharp.
    Brendan Smith.

    I’d be happy with those 2 moves and not mortgaging the future.

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  119. coos, when you talking about CCCP, for the rest of the Russian speaking world (with exception of our blog) it is abbreviation of our former country, born in 1924, (not being confused with 1917), which I’m pretty sure you are all know about.

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  120. Да здравсвует Союз Советских Социалистических Республик – страна победившего социализма! (и проигравшая всё остальное) LOL.

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  121. Wick- I think it’s a safe bet that Gorton’s not trading Skjei for a rental.
    If Skjei is being shipped out, it’ll be in a deal that involves the Rangers getting Trouba, but I don’t see that happening.

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  127. Right, 4ever…

    Tho, I use this CCCP handle because of what it represents in terms of hockey and the Soviet legends of our beautiful game….not the actual former country of ours.

    Liked by 1 person

  134. Heard someone say, (Cerny?), that it was notable that EStaal, Yandle and even MSL struggled to find key roles after coming here at the deadline.
    Have to put some of that on AV, especially with Yandle and EStaal.

    Is the Rangers System that difficult to get used to? Maybe the big stage of NYC/MSG is intimidating?

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  141. Old joke from the blog, Carp. I’m on vacation and way back some troll made a remark about ILB being on vacation while some folks struggled to put food on the table.

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  142. Because nobody has asked, I will tell you: the Rangers, 7th in fewest GA on the season, are 2nd in that category over the last 10 games, behind the Blues. This despite the terrible defense.

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  155. Carp – do you think the Rangers are better off setting themselves up for next year by trading a player they will lose in expansion draft for draft picks and then go after shattenkirk as FA in July or should they mortgage the future at race deadline to go for it this year given Hanks age.

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  157. leadership as in after last season AV talked about the problems the team had with younger players away from the rink; my guess is Hayes is one of the culprits.
    Point is the team doesn’t have the vets to steer the youngsters. Also a problem having a young Capt.
    Brush it aside if you must, but those be the facts according to their great coach
    .

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  158. I don’t know, MKH. As for trading a player they’re going to lose in the draft, then they will just lose another player in the draft. We’ll soon know if they want to spend the money to sign Shattenkirk, either now or later.

    I do tend to brush it aside in a general sense, because none of us is in there when it matters. But you make a good point about what happened last year, SN.

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  166. I’m out of bed and they don’t call it the trade deadline for nothin! Must beat the devs, unlike most people I believe in beating a dead horse when it comes to hockey!

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  167. I don’t believe they’ll bother with Shattenkirk considering he turned down a 7 year 42 million dollar extension that was offered to him in a trade scenario. Can’t lock up 7+ million per in a guy like him and give him term like that. Sorry but he’s not Brent Burns who won’t even be worth the back end of the next deal HE signs..

    Liked by 1 person

  168. Debbies abused us through the dark years and the fans took great pleasure in it. Thus I want to beat them, the dead horse, the stable boy, Brad Richards, the farmer and his daughter and then light the barn on fire and take a poop in the hay before it goes up in flames from now until the end of time.

    Liked by 3 people

  170. Really have no interest in Brendan Smith. The buzz now is that the Rangers are considering making a move with Detroit for him. Don’t see the point of bringing in another lefty even if they’re “comfortable” on the right.

    If the market prices drop, I’d be cool with trying for Hanzal to play fourth line center. but now that Burglund signed an extension I guess that’s not happening.

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  173. James- Good point on Shattenkirk and a contract extension.

    Klein’s play had improved, but his back issues might make the need for a guy like Smith even more important. He’s lefty, but can play the right side.

    I mean, there aren’t that many options out there for D, (lefty or righty). Anyone know anything about Dmitri Kulikov?

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  176. Always a big game for the Devils or Islanders against the Rangers, especially in their home rinks. Rangers rarely meet the intensity of these 2 opponents. For me, as much as I hate the Islanders I hate the Devils more………mostly because I am a NJ boy and went to many Rangers-Devils games in the Meadowlands. However, I don’t hate either of them as much as I hate the Flyers.

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  179. Ohh, I had brought up Kulikov a while back and most here were saying he’s injured a lot and hasn’t been as effective a player as he was when he was in Florida. I like his game when he brings it though.

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  181. I hate the pens, devs, azzlanders, and filth! The team I hate the most is the one the Rangers are playing at the time! So today I hate the devs the most! And not just beat them but destroy them!

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  187. Was about to suggest we see if Jim Weimer was available, but I just checked and we had to give up Dave Maloney (and Chris Renaud) to get Weimer and Steve Patrick. So forget that idea!

    Seriously though, Kyle Quincey also an option for a depth defenseman. We’ll see him tonight.

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  191. We don’t play “this evening,” and we don’t play “after tea and scones,” and we don’t play at “twilight.” We are a hockey team. We play whenever the puck is dropped.

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  196. So after venturing into society for a bit this afternoon (completely against my will) I have another category of “those I can do without”…People who get annoyed when someone is looking up their info in a computer and just burst out with “I mean I spend so much money in this place I don’t know why I’m not just right there”…Like their expenditures somehow mean there’s a whole separate database for just their profile. a “D list” if you will..

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  197. It’s good chance today’s ranger game against the devils will go to another shootout because the devils don’t score much and the rangers like to shoot back into the goalie when it’s a wide open net for easy goals.

    Liked by 1 person

  198. What would really make my day is to see the Rangers completely manhandled the debbie’s from start to finish! Is that too much to ask? Is that even possible?

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  199. Gaborik a healthy scratch for the Kings today. Anze Kopitar signed a 7 year contract for $10MM per, and had 6 goals. Can you imagine how much crap that would generate if he were a Ranger?

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  202. Whenever we think about Girardi and his contract, realize it could be worse. Dustin Brown could be a Ranger. The Kings obstruct opponents on every shift…..like the old Devils used to.

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