Sign in Subscribe
New York Rangers Game Notes

Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: Garand Can’t Do It Alone

Mike Sullivan preached urgency over desperation before puck drop. What followed was a goaltending duel, invisible referees, and a power play still looking for an identity.

Roberto Solis-Byxbee

Roberto Solis-Byxbee

— 4 min read
Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: Garand Can’t Do It Alone
(Image credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
  • Before Saturday's game, MSG aired an interview with head coach Mike Sullivan where he explained the difference between desperation and urgency. The game against the New Jersey Devils sucked, there's no way around it. But Sullivan's response and mentality are encouraging. The New York Rangers haven't had a coach who can lead like this in decades.
  • MSG then showed Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness commenting on how he was expecting more from his team Saturday and hoped they were embarrassed after their blowout loss to the Florida Panthers earlier in the week.
  • Sheesh, with both teams coming off lopsided losses, there was a shell-shocked vibe in the air. Actually, that may have been the cannon firing at the start of the game. God, I hate that cannon.
  • Dave Maloney used the word "irregardless" two minutes in. Contrary to popular belief, it is a real word but widely shamed. Shame on you, Dave, shame on you.
  • It looked like there were a bunch of empty seats in the lower bowl, but the Blue Jackets' color scheme closely matches the color of their seats, so it's a bit hard to tell. I looked it up, and 16,021 people attended Saturday's game. This was the least attended game of the Rangers' season so far.
  • The Blue Jackets' patch is an advertisement for Bread Financial. I've never heard of them, and when I googled them, I gotta tell you—you should look them up yourself. They have a high-yield savings account with a 4.05 percent APY, which is excellent. I promise I'm not paid to say this.
  • The Cadillac Trivia question of the game was a fun one: "Who were the four Rangers to win the Norris Trophy?" Maloney threw out a few names, and he tried to say Brad Park but flubbed it a bit …
  • Also, Brad Park never won the Norris. Maloney missed one notable name that should feel, uh, a lot more relevant to the actual hockey game he was providing color commentary for?

Read more