Blog Archives
Quick hits: New All-Star format, Dan Boyle retirement and bye weeks?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Welcome back to quick hits, where I chose a couple of the biggest topics from around the league and share my thoughts on it. I haven’t done this in a while, so be sure to let me know what you think, and leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
NHL Adopts New All Star Game Format (LINK)
Photo courtesy of the Bridgestone Arena.
After last year’s absolutely ridiculous All Star game in Columbus, finishing with a score line of 17-12, the NHL has decided to make a change in the format in an attempt to make it relevant and watchable.
Last year, two captains were chosen, Nick Foligno and Jonathan Toews, and teams were selected through a draft process. Divisions and conferences were split up, so it wasn’t the East versus the West. The actual game itself was dreadfully boring, with the players participating at half speed, not playing defense and seemingly taking the game as a joke. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers motivated for rematch against bruised and battered Lightning
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Tonight in Tampa Bay, the red-hot Rangers (14-2-2) get their first shot at redemption against the Lightning (8-9-3), the very same team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season, just one win shy of a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
While the Rangers are currently off to the best start in franchise history, the Lightning have failed to recreate their Eastern Conference Champion selves. After winning their first three games of the season, Tampa is 5-9-3 in their last 17 games, losing two straight games and four of their last five.
On top of that, they’re dealing with some substantial injures. Ondrej Palat has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, but Tyler Johnson and Cedric Pacquette have also been dealing with injuries, and will miss tonight’s game against the Rangers. On top of that, Jonathan Druin and former-Ranger Ryan Callahan are listed as day-to-day, and are not expected to play. 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 send scouts to Russia to watch Buchnevich, could be a late season add
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Claus Anderson/Getty Images.
With Adam Graves already in Russia as a scout, the Rangers have decided to send Chris Drury, the Director of Player Development, over to the KHL to observe the organization’s top prospect, winger Pavel Buchnevich.
Buchnevich opted to stay in the KHL this season rather than come for training camp. This was definitely the right move for him, especially since the training camp roster wound up being deeper and more talented than expected. He also wanted to improve his English before coming to America.
Instead of making the team as a spare forward or joining the Wolf Pack, Buchnevich is instead enjoying top line minutes in a competitive professional hockey league, shouldering tough matchups on a nightly basis. And he’s done a really good job so far this year. Read the rest of this entry
Zuccarello’s heroics hand the Rangers their ninth consecutive victory
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Don’t look now, but the Rangers are the best team in the NHL.
After Montreal’s quick start to the season and Dallas’ offensive explosion, it is the New York Rangers (14-2-2) that sit atop the league standings through 18 games after taking down the Toronto Maple Leafs (5-9-4) by a score of 4-3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers extended their win streak to nine games, the third longest streak in franchise history and the longest since a 10 game win streak since the 1972-73 season. They also have recorded a point in 13 consecutive games (11-0-2), with 11 wins in their last 12 games (11-0-1).
The Rangers have also set a new franchise record for wins (14) and points (30) through the first 18 games of the season. Their record on home ice improves to 9-0-1, with an eight game win streak at the Garden. Over that span, they’ve outscored opponents 33-11 and have a 16.2 shooting percentage. Read the rest of this entry
therangerzone.com 