Blog Archives
UPDATE: Kevin Hayes to make Rangers’ debut Tonight
Bobby Bevilacqua
CORRECTION: Jesper Fast did play in the game tonight after Mats Zuccarello was scratched. Zuccarello skated in warmups but was scratched right before. Fast was likely inserted after that decision was made.
In yesterday’s post, I made note of an incident in the first period where Zuccarello appeared to injure his shoulder. He finished the game, but was scratched today with a sore shoulder. He is currently listed as day to day.
Recently, the Rangers’ announced that Kevin Hayes will start in place of Jesper Fast in the Rangers’ home opener against the Maple Leafs.
It is unknown the reason for Fast being removed, but Hayes will likely take his spot at right wing on the fourth line.
Kevin Hayes will make his Rangers’ debut in the home opener tonight. He will likely play on the fourth line, and wear number 53.
Hayes, 22, is a product of Boston College, known for their tremendous hockey program, where he finished his senior season as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the top college player, after putting up 65 points in 40 games.
Hayes is listed at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, and was a sophomore on the 2012 Boston College national championship team with fellow Ranger Chris Kreider.
These are the anticipated lineups for tonight:
Kreider-St. Louis-Nash
Hagelin-Brassard-Zuccarello
Duclair-Miller-Stempniak
Glass-Dominic Moore-Hayes
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Klein
John Moore-Hunwick
Lundqvist
Game Notes: Rangers vs. Maple Leafs
Bobby Bevilacqua
Henrik Lundvist will start in net tonight as the Rangers play in their first game at Madison Square Garden since the Stanley Cup FInals.
The Rangers will play the Maple Leafs tonight in the first game of a four game home stand. In their first two games of the season, New York earned a split on the road (1-1-0), beating the St. Louis Blues and falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night.
After starting last season on a nine game road trip, the Rangers not only get to play a home game in the third game of the season, 14 of the next 19 games will be played at Madison Square Garden.
Toronto (0-2-0) lost their first two games, against the Canadiens in their season opener, and against the Penguins last night. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers fall in a fiesty loss to the Blue Jackets; Duclair records first NHL points
Bobby Bevilacqua
Cam Atkinson beats Cam Talbot for the one of Columbus’ 5 goals on the night. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers were defeated in a tough battle against Columbus by a score of 5-1, with one of those goals being an empty netter from Cam Atkinson. The Rangers started out really slow, and wound up playing catch up for the rest of the night.
Cam Talbot had a rough net in net, with 21 saves on 25 shots. Talbot let up the first goal of the night on the third shot he faced, and allowed two goals in in first six shots Columbus put on net. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the night, as the Blue Jackets held onto the lead for the remainder of the game. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers make adjustments as they head Into Columbus; Kostka recalled from Hartford
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers lineup will be changed even further as Rick Nash leads the Blueshirts into Columbus to face his former team.
Last year, when Nash returned to Columbus for the first time since coming to New York, Rangers’ fans were treated with one of his best, and most emotional, games of the season.
Rick Nash had a very eventful return to Columbus last year, which included a goal that was called back, a fight with Matt Calvert (pictured), and excellent play from the big man.
Nash did not score in the game, but was all over the ice, and registered 7 shots on goal. Nash did get the puck past Blue Jackets’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, but it was called back on a controversial incidental contact ruling.
Rangers Win Thriller in St. Louis; Dan Boyle out 4-6 Weeks
Bobby Bevilacqua
Rick Nash with a great game in the season opener, scoring 2 goals and tallying and assist.
The Rangers began the 2014-2015 with a victory in a surprisingly chippy game against a St. Louis team that won 52 games last year. New York won on a late goal in the third period by Rick Nash, who also scored another goal in the first period and assisted on Kreider’s goal in the third.
The Rangers came out firing on all cylinders. The first period was dominated by New York. They had twice as many shots as St. Louis, and skaters all over the ice were blocking shots and using the stick effectively, by making timely poke checks and deflecting shots from the Blues. St. Louis had just two shots at the nine minute mark of the first period. Read the rest of this entry
therangerzone.com 