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The Rangers are winning but not playing well, is it reasonable to be worried?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Watching the Rangers rattle off 16 wins in their first 21 games has been incredible to watch. They’re grinding out tough wins, scoring a lot of goals and not allowing many goals against. They’re the only team in the NHL that is yet to give up 40 goals, and their +28 goal differential is tied with Montreal for the best in the league.
Reading that, you’d probably imagine that this team is cruising along with no problems and nothing to worry about. But apart from the 2-6 start to begin the 2013, the play of the Rangers through the first 21 games has been the most concerning start to a season in recent memory.
Before you say “that’s stupid” or write this off as another blogger being negative about the team, hear me out. I do think the Rangers are still an elite team. I do think they’re in the mix for a Stanley Cup. And I do think this team has room to be much better. But they’ve been downright bad in some situations. Read the rest of this entry
Lundqvist magnificent as Rangers blank Predators in the Big Apple
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
There is nothing more confusing and puzzling in the NHL right now than the Rangers winning formula.
Despite getting outshot 25-7 after 40 minutes, and outshot 31-19 for the whole game, the New York Rangers (16-3-2) managed to survive a barrage of Nashville Predators (11-6-3) shots on net, starting a new win streak of two games.
Chants of “Hen-rik!” “Hen-rik!” were heard throughout the Garden, as the NHL leader in win improved his record to 12-3-2 with his second shutout of the season, a fantastic 31 save performance on home ice. He was the only reason his team was ahead after the second period despite taking five penalties. New York was vastly outplayed for large portions of this game, but Lundqvist gave them the win. Read the rest of this entry
Lundqvist challenges Rangers to be better against Nashville at MSG
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Despite the Rangers (15-3-2) overtime victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, and a 39 save performance, Henrik Lundqvist was not a happy camper.
In a game that the Rangers led 4-2 with under three minutes remaining, Alain Vigneault’s team squandered the two goal lead, allowing a power play goal, a tying goal from Jaromir Jagr, and then forcing Lundqvist to make a save on Reilly Smith’s penalty shot. It was a disastrous late meltdown that nearly saw the team throw away a second consecutive game.
“I’m still annoyed,” Lundqvist told the team’s official website. “We have to learn our lesson here, especially after last game. We’ve been talking about all the ways we find to win a game, then we found a way to lose a game (Thursday) and almost did it again (Saturday). We need to learn from this and smarten up.” Read the rest of this entry
Rick Nash hat trick lifts Rangers to overtime win in Florida
Alexandra Russo
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Sam Rosen said it best- “The Rangers just don’t like to lose.” After an emotionally exhausting night, losing to Tampa Bay 2-1, the Blueshirts got right back on track, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to finish the brief two-game road trip.
The line of Stalberg-Hayes-Lindberg received some constructive criticism from Alain Vigneault, and they looked much better once AV put Miller on that line in place of Hayes. The line recorded one goal- Stalberg’s second of the season- on the night.
The Rangers received the first power play opportunity of the game, recording quite a few shots on goal, despite the slow start. McDonagh’s shot was his team’s best opportunity, but it hit Luongo in the head. He recovered fast, though, and play continued. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers aim for new win streak against Jagr and the Florida Panthers
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The win streak ended at nine games, so it’s time to start another one.
After falling a win short of the franchise record 10 game win streak, the Rangers (14-3-2) look to get back to their winning ways against the Florida Panthers (8-8-3) to cap off a brief two game road trip.
The Rangers lost in regulation for just the third time this season, and the first time since October 15th. After Dominic Moore scored a late goal to tie the game at one, but they surrendered a shorthanded goal with just 1:05 remaining in the third period.
This is the first of three games between these two teams, and the first of two at the BB&T Center. The Rangers swept the season series last year against the Panthers. Read the rest of this entry
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