...where in a couple hours the Rangers are scheduled to practice at the old Spectrum, a joint haunted by the ghosts of former Flyers and the scene of many bloody battles.
Tomorrow, these Rangers will try to exorcise their own demons across the street against this year's model of the Broad Street Bullies.
That will be the 53rd game of the season, a season in which the Rangers are still groping like a blindfolded man in a messy apartment, trying not to whack his head on a closet door or trip over the coffee table.
Last year, the Rangers lost their 52nd and 53rd games before the spirited Sean Avery arrived with a flashlight to help lead them out of the darkness. Don't see any Avery-style savior on the immediate horizon, unless there's a deal of which I'm unaware.
Given that, I'll have a queston for the coach this afternoon: Where's Ryan Callahan?
The Rangers have a space on the 23-man roster and even if they didn't, Marcel Hossa, who has missed six games---the last few with back spasms, could be shipped out for conditioning.
Nobody on this team is hot. Shanahan broke the longest dry spell of his career, but he clearly has slowed. Avery and Prucha had no shots on goal last night. Ryan Hollweg has been awful. Girardi and Strudwick got toasted. And when even Trevor Letowski easily beats the King, well, things have gone awry.
Clutch goals? Haven't seen one from Drury in ages.
Game-turning saves? Not from Henrik.
Sure, they stuck up for each other and were burned by the refs.
But as Jagr said last night in the locker room after I asked him to explain the turnaround in the game: "Just say we ----"
They have another chance to prove the Captain---and plenty of observers---wrong tomorrow against the Flyers.
Please swing by here later for a report from practice....
Comments (13)
This situation crystalizes why Jagr gets in the way as the captain of this team. It needs some real leadership from a player right now, and he's not the guy for the job. Not only that, but his presence blocks anybody else -- like Shanahan -- from stepping up, out of respect.
And so the team drifts...
Jagr is not happy because they took his check line and chemistry away from him. Management messed with his linemates who he was so productive with last year.
Ask Renney why he doesn't reunite DDP (his best line for about four games) and why Prucha is not on the PowerPlay anymore. Tell him to watch a game tape of how the PP worked against Toronto when they won 6-1 to see how he should be using Prucha on the PP.
Zipay,
do you think there is anything at all to the Forsberg to the rangers rumours.
Hockeybuzz says they have a good source this time.
HAHA
Poor guy,
stop reading Hockeybuzz.. there is nothing on that site that will enlighten/forecast/predict an up coming anything related to hockey. Why Eeklund would write something so stupid is in hopes that a guy like you would come along and repost that crap. Call it a free advert on his behalf.
Dear god,
please help Glen Sather see the bigger picture, that the NYRangers are at the bottom of the division and need to finish there. Help him see that there is little to no chance that this team can make an impact during the playoffs. Please help him see that his UFA are fleecing his roster and cap space. Please help him make good solid trades that will benefit the future of this club by trading away these UFA for young prospects and draft picks. Please help us finish in the bottom 5 of the league so that one day we might have a future with bright hopes and dreams. Please help the scouts make the right chooce during the draft.
Please help Renny get fired at the end of the season. Please help the younger kid on this team.
I have more important things to worry about than your hockey team.
than there is no god.
If God cared about what happened in hockey, than the Devils wouldn't have won 3 Stanley Cups.
I hope we finish last so we get a decent pick this summer. I hope they trade Jagr, Straka, Shanahan, Roszival, Mara, Malik, Strudwick, Betts and Hollweg at the deadline. I hope they fire Renney. What a joke this team has become. Thanx for nothing guy's.
Why the clamor for Ryan Callahan? Other then scoring 2 goals in 2 blow outs last year, the guy has been an offensive zero for the rangers no matter his health..And, yes, lets break up the only current line that shows any chemisty (and does it job) just to get a still AHL player in the mix..
And why the rub against Hollweg? Guess he's not allowed to have a bad game? Because for over a month he's been doing a good job defensively, positionally, and physically for the Rangers..And if there is one guy on the HBO line to drop, perhaps it should be Orr-- the worst skater in the NHL whos' fights serve zero purpose and have no impact...Not to mention he plays RW, the postion Cally plays...That being said, the 4th line is the least of the problems right now and should stay together..
Hospo that was a great post but, it is falling on the deaf ears of the WolfPack fans here that have alot of free time on there hands. It is easier to call for all vets to be traded, all kids to play and to fire Renney and Sather then it is to look at this team objectively.
nothing like mass confusion! Yeah Renny great game plan!
Do you think the other teams we play need to wash the rangers stench off them after a game in hopes of not stinking in their next game?