Blog Archives
Clear your calendars: Games to watch out for in the 2015-16 season
Bobby Bevilacqua
Hockey season is around the corner, and excitement is building. Here are some of the biggest games to watch out for throughout the season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Last season, the Rangers season came to a disappointing end in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. But with every new season comes new opportunities, and another chance to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Any game can be exciting, because you never really know what will happen in each game. But here are some games that should be interesting, exciting, or eventful in the 2015-16 season. Read the rest of this entry
What Metropolitan teams will challenge the Rangers in 2015-16
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers look to be a top team in the East yet again, but which teams will rival them in their own division? Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
That trend continued this year, with the team making it all the way to the Conference Finals yet again, falling in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and just missing out on a second straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Alain Vigneault and his squad appear to be in good shape again for another run at a Stanley Cup Championship, keeping the majority of their core intact, and bringing in some nice pieces through trades and free agency. Some work remains to be done, like re-signing Derek Stepan, but for most part, this team is in good shape.
But the Metropolitan Division is getting better and better with each passing year. No longer is it dominated by two teams, which has really been the Penguins and Rangers for a few years. There are other teams in the division that have been getting better and better. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers move on to Round 2 with thrilling overtime win at MSG
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers sent the Penguins packing on Friday night, securing a 2-1 overtime victory courtesy of Carl Hagelin. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
In front of a raucous crowd at Madison Square Garden, Carl Hagelin’s wrist shot sent the fans into a frenzy, and sent the New York Rangers to the second round of the 2015 playoffs. For the second consecutive year, the Rangers eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins from the playoffs, this time doing it in just five games.
The Rangers haven’t really been able to close out series quickly in recent memory, so this gives some of the players who are banged up extra time to rest. The last time the Rangers won a series in less than six games was back in 2008, when they beat the New Jersey Devils in five games.
Every game in the series has been a one goal game, and all four Rangers’ wins were 2-1 victories. The Rangers became just the second team in NHL history to win a playoff series without scoring three goals in any of the wins, and the first team in the 2000’s to do so. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers aim to close out Round 1 at MSG; No lineup changes for the Rangers
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers are back at MSG for Game 5, looking to close out the series in five games for the first time since 2008. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
For the first time since 2008, the Rangers will attempt to end their first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games on Madison Square Garden ice, searching for their third consecutive playoff win.
The Rangers have not won a series in less than six games since the 2007-08 season, when they defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games, a series famous for the creation of the “Sean Avery rule,” when he screened Devil’s goaltender Martin Brodeur by waving his hands and stick in his face.
After sweeping the two games in Pittsburgh before returning home, New York has their best chance in years to close out a series early. And like an article from Fulltilt NYR pointed out, we could be seeing a very different kind of game tonight. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers comeback to win Game 4 in overtime; Hayes’ first playoff goal is a winner
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers were ecstatic when Kevin Hayes scored the overtime winner, giving the Rangers a commanding 3-1 lead over the Penguins. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Kevin Hayes’ first career playoff goal could not have come at a better time, lifting the Rangers to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Arena, and sending the Blueshirts back to Madison Square Garden with a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Although the Rangers had dominated first periods in this series, Penguins head coach Mike Johnston vowed that his team would come out with more fire, and play a better first 20 minutes. Pittsburgh did exactly that, completely outplaying the Rangers in every facet of the game, and limiting them to just two shots on goal in the period.
After the game, several Rangers including Lundqvist, Staal, Kreider, and others all said that Alain Vigneault really laid into the guys, firing them up and jumpstarting their performance in the second half. And around the 12 minute mark, Vigneault’s squad began to start playing their game again, leading to a Brassard goal in the second period and Hayes’ overtime winner. Read the rest of this entry
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