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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh
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71 | 42 | 24 | 5 | 89 |
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New Jersey
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70 | 42 | 24 | 4 | 88 |
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Philadelphia
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70 | 37 | 28 | 5 | 79 |
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New York Rangers
|
71 | 31 | 31 | 9 | 71 |
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New York Islanders
|
71 | 29 | 32 | 10 | 68 |
(updated 3.20.2010 at 8:14 AM EDT)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
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@
Boston
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Sun 03/21 | 12:30 PM EDT |
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New York Islanders
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Wed 03/24 | 7:00 PM EDT |
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@
New Jersey
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Thu 03/25 | 7:00 PM EDT |
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Toronto
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Sat 03/27 | 7:00 PM EDT |
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New York Islanders
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Tue 03/30 | 7:00 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
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St. Louis
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Thu 03/18 | L 3 - 4 |
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Montreal
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Tue 03/16 | L 1 - 3 |
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Philadelphia
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Sun 03/14 | W 3 - 1 |
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Atlanta
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Fri 03/12 | W 5 - 2 |
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New Jersey
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Wed 03/10 | L 3 - 6 |
How we're doin' round the net
Rangers Analysis: Ideas For The Future
by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 5:00 AM EDT
in Rangers Analysis
44 comments
The season is over.
That's not an angry statement, or a bias one. It's not a judgment call or even a guess. Even if the Rangers manage to scrape their way into the playoffs, the year is done. When you look at the big picture-which would be winning the Stanley Cup-you realize that there is no chance for success. Not with this team, they don't have the life.
There is a famous quote in the movie The Replacements. During the final game of the regular season where the Washington Senitals were playing Dallas to make the playoffs, Washington is down 17-0 going into the half. Walking off the field the coach, played by Gean Hackman, is asked what he thinks his team needs to get back into the game. His response is simply "heart." When asked to elaborate he says: "heart, miles and miles of heart."
The Rangers don't have that heart, and no changes they make this year are going to fix that problem. I don't care what lines John Tortorella feeds you, I don't care what the players say. "Talk is cheap," "actions speak louder than words," take your pick of the corny cliché phrase you want to use; but regardless of which one you choose they are all true. The Rangers have been talking all year ... with their mouths. When they bring their talk to the ice we get results like the one against St. Louis, listless efforts that result in a loss.
This isn't a post asking for John Tortorella's head. This isn't a post asking for Glen Sather's head. We have outlined those issues, you know the problems, and you don't need me to remind you. (How many times have I said that this year?)
Here is what I will outline for you, and what it is, is a basic idea of how to make this season worth something.
Join me after the jump for more.
44 comments | 0 recs |
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Blueshirt Banter Turns One!
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Mar 19, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in Bantering Around
42 comments
The process from my inquiring about running the New York Rangersblog here on SBNation to the official launch of Blueshirt Banter on March 19th2009 was actually about four months. SBNation was just starting to grow their hockey coverage in earnest, and (understandably so) they were looking for an established Rangers blog to come to the network and bring a following.
But after being unable to find a match, the powers-that-be at the network agreed to give me the opportunity to be the Managing Editor, my son came up with the awesome logo you see on the site, and Blueshirt Banter was born.
As we crack open the best bottle of champagne $4 can buy to toast our first birthday, I want to take a few minutes to thank the following people:
Note by Joe Fortunato: The true hero here is Jim. He was too modest to add himself but let me tell you that in the eleven months that I have "worked" here I have never met a more compassionate, more caring, or more driven individual. Jim is the reason behind why this site works, he taught me everything I know (and he was smart enough to bring me on). But most importantly he instilled the ideology that we have to care more for the fans of the site, then the site will come along next, and it shows. Thank you. (And thanks for dealing with my awful spelling! I'll learn eventually!)
Ryan McFadden: Although Ryan has gone off to study abroad, and isn't around to contribute much anymore, I'll never forget how he was here for me in the early days of the site when usually we were the only ones commenting on our own stories.
Joe Fortunato: This site would not be where it is today if not for Joe. He's not only a great writer, but I am proud to call him my good friend. I could never, ever, have done this without you Joe, and I am eternally grateful to you. You've been there for me for every up and down this site has had, and I hope you know how much I appreciate it.
Eddie Gieck: I met Eddie because of Joe and our radio show, and we have developed a great friendship to go along with our terrific working relationship. I look forward to many more laughs, Eddie, thanks for always helping me look at the lighter side of things.
Nick Montemagno: Our newest member of the Banter
Rob Luker: Rob came on in the early going as well, and always manages to find different ideas to write about. Thanks Rob!
Laurie Carr: Laurie runs a terrific site of her own, but helps us out with some of the unknown stories from Europe that she is able to translate for us. Thanks Laurie.
Readers Hall Of Fame:JoshNY, KingHenrik, stonecoldcory, FreeBradshaw, rmc235: All of these guys joined the site in the opening days, and have never left. Thanks guys!
To mleetch, dbmaven, DCRanger, 17ToTheRafters, AveryGod, Lunkwill, giantsNYrangers, and all of you who contribute every day, you are all part of the success of this site, and you have my undying gratitude.
Special thanks to James Mirtle, Ed Valentine, and the entire SBNation
Also want to thank my wife of almost ten years, who spends many a night talking to the back of my laptop and never (well almost never, but not as much as she has a right to)complains.
This birthday isn't about us, it's about you guys who have made this site what it is, the best place on the internet to talk Ranger hockey. Here's to many more years of "Bantering", and may we all see another Cup before we are too old to enjoy it! You guys prove to me every day that Ranger fans are the best fans in hockey. My financial situation didn't permit me trips to NY like I was hoping this season, but I promise you, my goal for next season is to knock a few back with as many of you as I can.
42 comments | 0 recs |
Rangers Recap: Rangers Put Themselves in Very Tough Position with 4-3 Loss to Blues
by NYRBlogger on Mar 18, 2010 10:21 PM EDT
in Rangers Recaps
54 comments
It is going to take a miracle for the New York Rangers to make the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Boston Bruins were shutout by the Penguins 3-0, meaning the Blueshirts would move within a point of a playoff spot heading into Boston on Sunday if they won tonight. Of course, the Rangers never make things easy and lost another depressing game, leaving the ice with the same old deflated feeling they are used to when they play at Madison Square Garden. The Atlanta Thrashers defeated the Senators, also, meaning that they are now tied in points with New York in the Eastern Conference.
There is now eleven games remaining in the regular season, and the Rangers are going to need to win eight or nine of those in order to make the playoffs. When you consider how inconsistent this team has been all year long, the likelihood of them actually pulling this off is small, minute in fact. Like I said, it is going to take a miracle for them to make the playoffs.
Now I am going to take a break from the usual format I stick with when writing my postgame analysis/recaps. Most of us saw the game, we know the story, and we know why they lost. For those who didn't get to catch the game, below is a mini recap, and then below that is where the interesting stuff begins.
The Rangers cannot get up for games, plain and simple. That was evident tonight when Brad Boyes scored 1:10 into the contest. Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik then answered that with goals of their own in that first period. Unfortunately, they would gain no momentum from that, as the Blues went on to score two unanswered goals, putting the Blueshirts down 3-2.
Wade Redden buried a laser in the third period; his first goal in 58 games. (Pause and take a few seconds to let that sink in). However Paul Kariya tipped home an Oshie shot just over a minute later, which would be both the game-winner and his 400th career goal. The Rangers then had opportunities to make something happen on the powerplay, but as usual, they did nothing with it.
More after the Jump>>
54 comments | 0 recs |
St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers: Open Game Thread
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Mar 18, 2010 6:30 PM EDT
in Rangers Game Threads
561 comments
St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Thursday March 18th, 2010
Madison Square Garden
561 comments | 0 recs |
Rangers Pregame: Thoughts on Drury and Lundqvist Comments, Blues-Rangers Preview
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Mar 18, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
in Rangers Pregame
35 comments
I know a lot of you weighed in on Chris Drury's comments on the Rangers maturity, but I wanted to give my thoughts as well. In case you missed it, here is what Drury had to say about the Rangers inconsistent play:
"It's immaturity, that's what it's been all year. Simple answer." Drury also said the Rangers better "Grow up fast or you're gonna be watching a lot of playoff hockey in 12 or 13 games, or whatever the hell we have left."
Now despite the 39 years experience I have at acting like a child, I equivocate the word "immaturity" with "young", and while I applaud Drury speaking out about his
A few adjectives Drury might have used instead would be "dumb", "moronic", "ridiculous", and "ulcer inducing".
Now I thought Henrik Lundqvist also had an interesting quote that got passed over in the wake of the Drury comments:
"I don’t know, it’s hard to put my finger on it, why we’re not consistent enough," Lundqvist added. "It’s a tough thing. The top teams are not that much better, they’re just more consistent. A big part of it is mental preparation and how much you want it."
We've all questioned the work ethic of this
Game Preview after the hump.......
35 comments | 0 recs |
Rangers Analysis: Gaborik's Struggles Not Helping Sinking Rangers
by NYRBlogger on Mar 18, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in Rangers Analysis
18 comments
Earlier in the season, Marian Gaborik was contending with Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for the scoring title in the National Hockey League. Most often, Marian was between first and fifth in scoring in the league, even when the team went through rough stretches. Now, though, several months later, Gaborik has dropped to tenth in scoring with 73 points. Obviously that is not horrible or anything, but when you consider where Gaborik was in November to where he is now in March, there have been some drastic changes in the star winger's game.
I truly believe Gaborik is playing with an injury of some sort. Maybe he is still suffering from the groin issue that acted up while he was in Vancouver for the Olympic Games, or maybe not. We will not be finding out anytime soon, as the coaching staff has such a strict policy when it comes to leaking information to the public. Anyway, if it is an injury from the Olympics, our greatest fear has become reality.
If you watch Gaborik now, and then watch clips of him during a game in November, there is a very noticeable change in his speed and explosiveness. Gaborik's game is built around his superior speed, and when that weapon in his arsenal is not available to him, his entire game will be thrown off. With a groin injury, it would only make sense that he would have trouble skating at top speed, and like I said, I truly feel that is the case.
When Gaborik is not scoring, the New York Rangers are not scoring. This saying may be getting old by now because we have been hearing it over and over again since the start of the regular season, but when you think about it, it adds up. Marian accounts for just under fifty percent of this team's offense afterall.
Continue Reading after the Jump>>
18 comments | 0 recs |
Blueshirt Banter Radio tonight at 8 PM!
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Mar 17, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
in Rangers Radio
0 comments
Eddie and I will be on the air tonight at 8 PM with another edition of Blueshirt Banter Radio. We will be talking about last 
night's debacle against the Habs, playoff scenarios, and more. And as always, we will be taking your phone calls. You can click the link for Blueshirt Banter Radio and join the great live chat that takes place during the show, or listen on the player below:
0 comments | 0 recs |
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