Rangers don't play at home til the end of October? This is a good thing.

by KingHenrik30 on Sep 19, 2011 10:20 PM EDT

I was giving the schedule some serious thought, and although the Rangers face a lot of distractions this season (HBO series / Winter Classic), I think the European tour and the long road trip while MSG gets the facelift is ultimately a blessing in disguise.

I say, let this team work out its kinks on the road, away from the demanding, impatient fanbase we know and love. Let Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik get comfortable with each other away from the fans, who will surely be expecting five hat tricks and twenty assists in the first three games; let the powerplay get a chance to click on foreign soil, before the boo birds can rain down the hate before Halloween.

If all goes well, the Rangers will be a more honed, well-oiled machine when the glitz and pomp of the home opener comes around.

(if this has been covered I apologize; been away from my computer for a few days)

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I can definitely see your reasoning, and I agree, it could be the perfect bonding experience for our boys to start the year off right (I like to say you can’t make the playoffs in Oct/Nov, but you can miss the playoffs in Oct/Nov, example NJ last year), but all that is a moot point if we are .500 at home again this year and battling for a playoff spot come Feb/March where we play a lot of home games. Now personally, I think we are going to be battling for home ice and not fighting to get in so that may not matter either, but if we want a good run up to and in the playoffs this year, with the schedule the way it is, we need in the ballpark of 50-55 points at home. Otherwise our stretch run will be with .500 hockey, and that’s not going to scare anyone and may put us on the outside looking in.

As important as this opening stretch in Europe and being on the road is to this season, winning at home is critical this year.

~R.I.P. Derek

~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.

by Ranger84 on Sep 20, 2011 12:34 AM EDT reply actions

Not to mention the sizable homestand in March that results in us not playing at home to start the season. That is going to be huge for the playoff push.

#12 Carl Hagelin

by The Blue Seats on Sep 20, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

As I said in my reply, that homestand in March is only a good thing if we are playing above .500 at home. A .500 stretch run is NOT good.

~R.I.P. Derek

~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.

by Ranger84 on Sep 20, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

A homestand in March is a good thing because our players will get to sleep in their homes for a few weeks in the ass half of a vigorous 82 game season.

#12 Carl Hagelin

by The Blue Seats on Sep 20, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah its actually perfect

when all the teams are tired and making last strides towards the playoffs, we will have all our games at home and be rested. so now all we need to do is make sure we arent battling for a playoff spot and are in it to win it. Ugh although i wish there was some way of us picking first overall in the next coming draft. This guy Nail Yakupov is going to be AMAZING

by Eric Bure on Sep 20, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Bet the aves are gonna tank and Washington ends up with him

by HockeyBug30 on Sep 20, 2011 6:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I love the long road trip….no distractions and tons of practice.
Looking at our home ice winning percentage the past few years, playing on the road seems like a great idea.

by NYR94 on Sep 20, 2011 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Let the team bonding commence

"Kick ass. pop champagne. And get some ho's"-Hideki Matsui

by Livestrong77nyy on Sep 20, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

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