Monthly Archives: December 2014
Rangers look to end 2014 on a positive note against the Panthers
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Panthers will face off for the first time this season on Wednesday, and both teams will be looking to end the season on a good note.
The Rangers (19-11-4) will be looking to finish the season strong, and will be matched up against a surprising Florida Panthers (16-9-8) team in the final game of 2014.
The Panthers will be playing their second game in as many days, and lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the shootout on Tuesday night. Roberto Luongo started in net for the Panthers, meaning that Al Montoya will start against the Rangers. Montoya is 2-2-2 with a 2.27 goals allowed average and a .915 save percentage.
The Panthers have been dubbed the “Comeback Cats” by many of their supporters, mainly due to their ability to comeback late in games, as well as sending the game to overtime frequently, leading the league in overtime games with 15 this season. They scored four goals in overtime to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, and scored a goal with less than two minutes to send the game into overtime before losing in the shootout. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers win streak snapped by streaking Stars; JT Miller scores in return
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers were unable to extend their win streak to nine games, after running into a hot goaltender and a surging Dallas team. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (19-11-4) could not extend their win streak any further, falling to a tough Dallas Stars (16-14-5) on the road by a final score of 3-2, their first loss since December 6th against the Red Wings.
The first period had a total of four goals, with two for each team, and it appeared as if the game was headed for a high-scoring shootout. But a goal just 54 seconds into the second period sealed the win for the Stars, who have now won six of their last seven games. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers look to keep winning ways against the Stars; Potential lineup changes
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Stars will face off for the first time this season, pitting the two leading goal scorers, Tyler Seguin and RIck Nash, against each other. Photo courtesy of the New York Rangers.
The Rangers (19-10-4) are currently in the midst of their longest win streak in 40 years. One win would tie the longest win streak in franchise history, but they will have to go through the Dallas Stars (15-14-5), who have won five of their last six games.
The Stars are coming off of a 4-3 win against the St. Louis Blues, continuing their success in recent games. The Stars are still eight points back in the standings, but are hoping to climb into a wild card spot. Read the rest of this entry
What should Vigneault do with the bottom two lines?
Bobby Bevilacqua
JT Miller has been a much improved player since his return, However, he was scratched in favor of Lee Stempniak. There is controversy over who Vigneault should be playing on a daily basis. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
In the Rangers win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, VIgneault reinserted Lee Stempniak back into the lineup, as he had finally recovered from the mumps. However, he sat one of the Rangers hottest scorers; JT Miller.
Many fans, critics, and Rangers reporters were not happy with the decision to remove Miller, who has four goals and an assist since returning to the Blueshirts.
Early on in the season, Lee Stempniak was one of the Rangers better players. He was scoring, creating offense, and contributing to the forecheck and on defense. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers roll over Devils for 8th straight; Stepan picks up a hat trick
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers celebrate Derek Stepan’s second goal of the night, coming in the second period on the power play in the Rangers 3-1 win. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers (19-10-4) started off the second season on the right foot, defeating the Devils (12-18-7) in front of 18,006 Garden faithful by a final score of 3-1.
Derek Stepan scored all three of the Rangers goals, bringing his point total to 22 (6-16-22) in just 21 games this season. It is also the first time that the Rangers have had hat tricks in back-to-back games since Mike Gartner and Adam Graves did it in the 1994 season. Read the rest of this entry
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