Battle Of The Ages: The New York Rangers Travel To Boston

But the photographer nailed that pic perfectly

BUT the Rangers really need a big win right now, and this would be a perfect game to show the NHL that they are in it to win it this year.

What worries me about this game, with all of the hype surrounding it, and all the other bullshit leading up to it, that 2 different things might happen:

1. We win, which would obviously be great, but it leads to a ‘crowning’ of sorts, which leads to them taking the foot off the gas. Not nearly as bad as

2. We lose, in which case everybody goes on another “traid all da playerz!” tantrum, and with Dolan’s hyping bullshit, Glen goes out and pulls the trigger on a bad trade.

Most important thing right now is for this team to use this game to up their level of play back to where it was when 5+ game winning streaks were commonplace.

Rangers are not playing well, so to lose to the B’s now doesn’t say much. This is the point of the year where the swoon is most likely. They look tired, slow and unenthusiastic. I’m hoping they’re not headed for a slump but they might be.

…but not because the rangers need to prove anything to the rest of the league. If other teams don’t want to believe the rangers are the real deal…whatever. What’s more important about this game is that the rangers need a shot of confidence.
They have been bouncing back and forth between wins and losses and playing some pretty poor hockey in the process. I was not convinced by their performance against the preds or coyotes, despite the wins. The lack of power play production is something that i think most of us recognize is a huge issue. If they scored even one PP goal last night the game could have been completely different. Even more alarming, however, is the lack of scoring from our top players. I know we were looking for secondary scoring, but now that is all we seem to be getting. I don’t have the data to back it up, but it seems the rangers aren’t converting on their chances the way they were just a couple of weeks ago. If these things don’t change in a hurry, the rangers won’t be unslumping themselves anytime soon.
Rangers should come out against Boston with a lot of intensity. They need they’re top players to step up and put one past one of two of the leagues best goaltenders. They need to convert on the man advantage. Their were glimmers of a functioning power play last night…they actually had it in the zone for small stretches….too much passing though IMO. If they can beat boston by doing these things, it should give them the confidence they need to string a few wins together. If they beat boston on even strength goals by brian boyle or john mitchell, i don’t see their fortune changing over the next stretch of games.

Lose a well played, tight game in Boston and then win the next 3 or 4 games afterwards?

or

Blow the bejesus out of the Bruins and then slack off and drop the next 2 games before the break?

I can’t remember any real shit shows the last couple of years, in either building. I think the All-Star break is what the doctor ordered, they’ve had a lot going on right from the beginning, they look stale and a little burnt.

As far as whether we’re ‘for real’ or not, the only barometer is in the playoffs. No one, other than us Ranger fans, will buy in until we win some rounds in the spring.

And Cally – if Chara winds up for one of his power blast slapshots, please get the fuck out of the way!

Of course this game means something, but it is still a regular season game. Two big boys on the block fighting it out. Agree with Joe1969—- Cally, get the F out of the way!

Breaking news on Del Zotto…………
Michael Del Zotto has been dropped by 700 teams in Yahoo! leagues.

Prediction……. Whale wins tonight (5-2), we win tomorrow at Boston, we all have a great weekend. LGR !!!

and a meeting on Monday morning between Sather and Richards in Sather’s office.
Amount of KY lubricant depends on a score tomorrow.