Blog Archives
Rangers look to start the second half strong in a division battle against the Devils
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
With the All Star Weekend in the rear view mirror, the Rangers (27-17-5) focus shifts to a battle for the playoffs. Thirty-three games spanning the next 68 days. Fifteen of those will come against Metropolitan Division opponents, including tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils (25-20-5).
At this same point last season, there were six teams in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Rangers, but they had a comfortable eight point playoff cushion. This year, only six teams in the NHL have more points than the Rangers. But in a much more competitive Metropolitan Division, and a tight East, the playoff cushion is just four games.
The Rangers have reason to feel confident though. In the last 10 weeks of last regular season, Alain Vigneault’s squad went 25-7-3 and secured the President’s trophy with their play after March. These last 33 games are incredibly important, especially since many of the games come against Division foes looking to take over the Rangers playoff spot. Read the rest of this entry
Fight Hunger and bid to win Rangers tickets and an autographed stick!
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Bobby Bevilacqua
WhyHunger, a nonprofit organization fighting to end hunger and poverty, is auctioning off two tickets to a Rangers game to help raise money as part of their annual Hungerthon.
WhyHunger is an organization that connects people to nutritious, affordable food and invests in grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment. This year is their 30th annual Hungerthon, which includes an extensive celebrity auction of exclusive memorabilia and experiences, all of which are donated.
This year, they’re auctioning off a deluxe Rangers package that with some great prizes and a fantastic experience for your child (age 6-12). Read the rest of this entry
Rangers drop third straight game in overtime to the lowly Devils
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The tough times keep coming for Alain Vigneault and the Blueshirts.
Despite having more possession, more scoring chances, and playing a stronger game overall, the Rangers (3-2-1) lost their third consecutive game, handing the New Jersey Devils their first lead of the season and their first win.
The Rangers dominated the first period, with more shots on goal (9-6), more shot attempts (19-8), and taking the lead just over three minutes into the game. Oscar Lindberg stole the puck in the Rangers defensive zone and carried it up the ice before saucering a pass across the ice to Derek Stepan. Stepan made an excellent deke to open up Schneider before slotting it between his legs for his third goal of the season.
The Rangers wound up controlling the rest of this period. Oscar Lindberg created some excellent chances, connecting on a few more impressive passes, but nobody was finishing their chances. Viktor Stalberg also had a superb period, winning a lot of puck battles and leading the team in possession and hits after 40 minutes. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers aim to end brief skid with new lineup against the Devils
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After two pretty disappointing efforts and the first two losses of the season, the Rangers (3-2-0) will look to end their goalless drought as they return home to take on the New Jersey Devils (0-3-1), who are searching for their first win.
The Rangers left Montreal empty-handed despite an excellent performance from Henrik Lundqvist, mainly due to their inability to sustain pressure as well as the play of the Montreal defenders and Carey Price.
While they’ll now be taking on a winless team in the Devils, the Rangers will still match up against a very good goaltender. Cory Schneider will be in between the pipes for the Devils, making just his third start of the season. Schneider made 34 saves in a shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks.
The Devils have had a lot of trouble scoring goals so far, finding the back of the net just six times in the first four games. Mike Cammalleri is their leading scorer with a goal and two assists, and three players are tied for second with two points, including former Ranger Lee Stempniak. Read the rest of this entry
NHL Division Preview: The Metropolitan
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Capitals will be two of the Metropolitan’s best teams this season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The upcoming NHL season is less than two weeks away, and the excitement is palpable. The rosters are almost finalized, preseason is almost over, and the grind for a Stanley Cup Championship is about to begin.
This is the first post in a series of four where I will preview each division in the NHL, make my predictions, and choose who I think will be in the playoffs. There will be an article for each division in the league.
The Metropolitan Division is shaping up to be the best in the entire league. Many of the teams have either maintained their strong roster or drastically improved, meaning that this division is very likely to send five teams to the playoffs.
The Rangers were the champions of the Metropolitan last season, in the regular season and after the first two rounds, and they’ll look to defend their divisional prowess against some surging teams such as the Penguins, the Capitals, and the Islanders. Read the rest of this entry
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