Avery's "Antics"

Well the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils series has started, and it has not disappointed. Each game has been hard fought and come down to the wire. Right now though, the Rangers lead the Devils 2 games to 1. On a side note, Sunday nights Devil's win added more history between Sean Avery and Martin Brodeur. On a 5 on 3 powerplay, Sean Avery went to the front of the net and turned his back to the play. Standing directly in front of Martin Brodeur, Avery stood there waving his stick in front of Brodeur's face to distract him. This has never been done before and therefore not a penalty. Brodeur would whack Avery with his stick, but Avery would get the last laugh on the shift. Avery ended up scoring powerplay in a traditional method. He recieved a pass from Scott Gomez in front of the net and banged the puck home. The Rangers would end up losing the game, but the NHL would act on "Avery's Antics". In a statement by Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations, he said,"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play." Here is the link to see what Sean Avery was doing to Martin Brodeur, VQUZESHUF

The Rangers and Devils drop the puck for game 4 tonight at 7 P.M. I am also attending game 5 on Friday.

As always, LETS GO RANGERS!!!!

Article used for reference: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3346729

Playoffs Baby...Eastern Conference Predictions

Here are my prediction for the Eastern Conference. I feel the East is a little more wide open than the West and that anyone can reach the cup finals.

#1. Montreal vs. #8. Boston

Here is one of the best rivalries in hockey. Expect to see some hard hitting in this series. Don't however expect this one to last to long though. Boston played Montreal 8 times this year, and did not win a single game. They playoffs is a completely different season, but Montreal has owned the Bruins. Therefore I am going with the sweep on this one.

Montreal in 4, break out the broom.

#2. Pittsburgh vs. #7. Ottawa

At the beginning of the season this series would be regarded as an exciting series. With so much offensive firepower on both sides, one would expect this one to go 7 games. However, Pittsburgh has been on fire of late and Ottawa is slumping to say the least. Not to mention, Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson and Miek Fischer are hurt. A healthy Sidney Crosby and a confident Marc-Andre Fleury send Ottawa into the offseason.

Pens in 5.

#3. Washington vs. #6. Philadelphia

This is going to be great series. Washington has been of the hottest teams in the NHL going into the playoffs abd Alexander the Greats legacy continues to grow. Alexander Ovechkin is the best player in the NHL and something tells me his intensity is going to give Philadelphia a lot of problems. Philly on the other hand was out of the playoffs and then made a run of their own to move into 6th place in the east. A healthy Daniel Briere is a big advantage for Philly. Expect this one to go the distance. I flipped a coin on this series and then changed my mind. I can not go against Ovechkin right now.

Washington in 7.

#4. New Jersey vs. #5. New York Rangers

The fun between these two teams continues. The Rangers and Devils have had some memorable series, with the Rangers usually coming out on top. They have played each other 4 times in the playoffs, with th Rangers winning 3 of those. This season the Rangers took 7 out of 8 against the Devils, but 4 of those wins were in shootouts. In playoff hockey, there aren't any shootouts. Expect these teams to beat the living Hell out of each other. Rangers need there big time players to step up. Drury, Gomez, Shanahan and Jagr need to provide leadership to the Ranger youngsters. The Devils need Elias and Parise to get hot, because without them, the Devils offense does not go. Then there is Martin Brodeur. Arguably the greatest goaltender of all time, his game always shifts to another level in the postseason. On the other side of the ice, expect Henrik Lundqvist to step his game up as well. Lundqvist lead the league in shutouts this year with 10. When Lundqvist is on, he has the ability to steal games just like Brodeur. Expect both netminders to put on a show. This series is going to take a toll on whoever advances. This one could end up having multiple OT games. I personally cannot wait until the puck drops in game 1. Being this is Rangers blog, I got to show my love to the Broadway Blueshirts.

Rangers in 6.

These are my picks and I am sticking to them. If you don't like it, go kiss a VQUZESHUF.

As always, LETS GO RANGEERSSSSSS!!!!!!

Playoffs Baby...Western Conference Predictions

It's playoff time boys and girls. The best time of year for any hockey fan. Be prepared for some old time hockey. There are no more shootouts if a game goes to overtime, its back to 5 on 5, until a team scores. Here are my predictions for the Western Conference. These teams are going to beat each other s


#1. Detroit vs. #8. Nashville

Give Nashville credit for somehow making the playoffs after the fire sale they had this offseason. They have had quite the season, but Detroit looks focused this year. Too much fire power in the motor city for the Predators.

Detroit in 5.


#2. San Jose vs. #7. Calgary

Is this the year San Jose finally gets out of the second round? In order to make it to the second round, they need to beat the Flames. San Jose was experts pick at the beginning of the season to win the Stanely Cup, but do not count off Iginla and co. With Kipper in net and Iron Mike Keenan behind the bench, expect a hard fought series. The Flames will make it a series, but San Jose will come out of this one.

San Jose in 6.


#3. Minnesota vs. #6. Colorado

This is one of the more interesting matchups in the West. Minnesota seems poised to go deep into the playoffs, but Colorado has veteran leadership. Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, and Peter Forsberg know what it takes for a long playoff run. On top of that, Jose Theodore has revived his play. I am a huge fan of the Wild, but for some reason I can not turn my back on Sakic.

Colorado in 7.

#4. Anaheim vs. #5. Dallas

Just like Minnesota and Colorado, I feel this is going to be great matchup as well. Anaheim is looking to defend it's title and have the players to do so. Selanne, Niedermeyer, Pronger, Getzlaf, Perr, and many others. Not to mention, they have Jiggy playing his best hockey of his career. However, the Stars aren't going to be pushed around. The stars aquired clutch playoff performer Brad Richards at the trade deadline. He just seems to step up his game when the spotlight is on him. Marty Turco exorcised his demons last season with a spectacular playoff performance. I feel his confidence level will be through the roof. I am going again with the lower seed here.

Dallas in 6.


These are my Western Conference predictions and I am sticking to them. If they are all off, feel free to call me VQUZESHUF. Tomorrow I will have my Eastern Conference predictions.

As always, LETS GO RANGERS!!!!

Word We Created in Class

VQUZESHUF

So for our last class, we came up with a word that could not be found on Google. Clearly, this is not an actual word. The assignment being, when we created this word, we had to add what the word meant. So here is what I think the word VQUZESHUF means.


VQUZESHUF - (noun) is a moose who lives high up in the alps. Similar to an American Moose, this one has only one antler. Sometimes mistaken for the abominable snowman by climbers, this creature is harmless, unless provoked.

Playoff Problems

As the Rangers look to lock up a berth in the playoffs tonight (with a win), I wanted to look at a few of the problems with the Rangers team. If they are looking to go far in the playoffs they need to address a few things. The Rangers have gone 17-5-5 in their last 27, which is an amazing record. They have had some bumps along the way though. The powerplay has been a key issue. In a 14 game span, the Rangers went an awful 3 for 46. That is just outright terrible. You can't win in the playoffs without a strong powerplay. Hopefully Tom Renney has found the solution, as of their last 3 games, the Rangers are 5 for 12. The Rangers cannot afford a slump in the PP in the playoffs.

Another issue the Rangers need to address is out of their hands. The Rangers have some injuries to their key players. Shanahan left the Pittsburgh game on Monday with an undisclosed lower body injury. Scott Gomez is suffering from sore ribs, Blair Betts is still recovering from foot surgery, and Colton Orr is also still sidelined. Shanahan, Gomez, and Blair Betts are key components to a long playoff run. Their health is a major concern of the Rangers. Colton Orr is a tough guy, who the Rangers would need to drop the gloves occasionally so they don't get pushed around. The only thing the Rangers can do in this situation is to rest these guys. Hopefully they will be ready to go come April 9th.

Another issue the Rangers need to focus on is defense. Henrik has been stellar all year, but in order to win championships, you need defense. The Rangers have one of lowest GAA per game however, the defense's inexperience in the playoffs could be an issue. Veteran leaders on the offense will need to be the vocal leaders for a young defense. Take a look, Marc Staal is in his first playoffs series, Dan Giradi is in his second, Rozival and Tyutin are in their third. The Rangers have a young strong core of defensemen, hopefully they will come to play.

The Rangers start a home and home tonight with the Islanders, and then finish off against the Devils on Sunday. The Rangers will lock up a spot in the playoffs tonight with a win or a Washington Capitals loss.

Lets get ready to make noise in the playoffs boys....LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!

The New York Rangers were back at it with a valuable home and home series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers went into Pittsburgh on Sunday and came away empty handed as they lost 3-1. This was a nationally televised game that saw the Rangers commit 9 penalties. The Rangers jumped out to an early lead in the first on a power play goal by Bradon Dubinsky. The Penguins would strike back with goals from Marian Hossa and Evgani Malkin to take a 2-1 lead. The Rangers would press for the rest of the game, but would end up falling to the Pens. A late goal by Maximme Talbot in the third would seal the deal for the Rangers. This win propelled the Pens to the top of the Eastern Conference, and also made sure the Rangers could not compete for the Atlantic Division Crown.

The Rangers would go back to the Garden on Monday to finish the home and home with the Penguins. The Rangers came out strong, out shooting the Pens 10-1 in the first period, but the score was tied at zero none the less. The Rangers continued their onslaught in the second, only this time they found the back of the net. The Rangers had a 5-3 powerplay, and they scored on an incredibly whacky play. Jagr sent a backhand shot to the net that ricocheted off Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury. The puck popped up in the air over the crossbar, hit a Penguins defensemen’s glove, then hit Fleury's helmet and went in. As this was going on, the Rangers Scott Gomez swiped at the puck in the air. The official originally thought Gomez hit the puck with his stick which would disallow the goal. After a lengthy instant replay, the Rangers would receive the goal. The second period would end with the Rangers leading 1-0.

The Penguins came out flying in the third period, as the game seemed to be slipping away. The Rangers tried to weather the storm, but the Pens would even up. The game would end up finishing 1-1, with the game headed into overtime. The Rangers needed the extra point, and you could sense it is his play. The would draw a powerplay, giving them a 4 on 3 advantage. This is where the Rangers would need Captain Clutch, and he delivered. Drury rifled a slap shot through a screened Marc Ander Fleury. This gave the Rangers the win and the valuable point they needed in the tight Eastern Conference. The Rangers leaped into 5th place and the standings, and the Pens stayed in first place in front of idle Montreal.

The Rangers have 3 games left, and trail the 4th place New Jersey Devils by 1 point. The Rangers have a home and home against the Islanders, and finish the regular season against New Jersey at the Prudential Center. The playoffs start on April 9th.

As always, LETS GO RANGERS!!

Back on the Winning Track

After a disappointing trip to Florida, the New York Rangers came home to the tri-state area. Two losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers left a sour taste in the New York Rangers mouths, as it ended their 13 game point streak. The Rangers would play back to back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers were back in the Garden on Tuesday to face the high powered offense of the Penguins. The Rangers caught a break though, as Sidney Crosby was sidelined with a high ankle sprain. The Pens still were dangerous with Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa. The Rangers came out strong in the first with goals by Sean Avery and Ryan Callahan. However, in the second, the Pens struck back. Quick goals by Jarkko Ruutu and Jordan Staal noted the game at 2. Sensing his team had lost their composure, Head Coach Tom Renney called a timeout. This proved to be a wise move as the Rangers responded. Newly acquired Ranger Fredrik Sjostrom answered the call. 44 seconds after the timeout, Sjostrom stole the puck and scored on a mini-breakaway. After this, the Rangers would not look back. The third period was dominated the Rangers, as goals were scored by Straka and Avery. The Rangers would go on to win by the final of 5-2. Lundqvist looked solid in the win posting 22 saves as he notched his 33rd win of the season.

Notes* Rangers kept Evgeni Malkin in check as he did not register a point. Jordan Staal of the Penguins and Marc Staal of the Rangers continued their sibling rivalry, with Marc coming out on top. Their father was also in attendance. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his 100th victory as a Rangers goaltender, becoming the fastest Rangers goaltender to reach the mark (187 games, the previous record holder was Mike Richter with 198.)

The very next night, the Rangers were back on the ice against the New Jersey Devils in the Prudential Center. This would be the 6th meeting between the two teams this season, with the Rangers having won the previous 5. Henrik Lundqvist would be back in net after playing the night before, but against the Devils this season, King has played out of his mind. Lundqvist has only allowed more than two goals once against the Devils this season. On top of that stat, King Henrik has posted two of his nine shutouts against the Devils as well.

From the drop of the puck, you could feel the intensity of this game. 35 seconds in, David Clarkson and Sean Avery dropped the gloves. Jersey came out flying, as they had a few days rest. The Rangers appeared to just try and weather the storm after playing last night. The Devils would leave the period on top though, as Dainius Zubrus scored a power play goal for the Devils. Martin Brodeur looked sharp as well, as he stopped Martin Straka on a breakaway. The second period began, and this time the Rangers came out flying. They dominated most of the second period, but Brodeur continued his stellar play. At the end of two, the Rangers were still down 1-0.

The third period was exciting to say the least. Back and forth action the whole period, with the Rangers getting the upper hand. Then, with less than 5 minutes left, captain clutch himself, Chris Drury tied the game at 1. Ryan Callahan had the puck behind the Devils net and swooped right out in front of the goal line. He thread a rocket of pass across the crease between two Devil defenders to a wide open Chris Drury. Drury made sure to bury it, as he roofed it up top and knocked off Martin Brodeur's water bottle. The game would end tied at 1, and go into a 4 on 4 overtime.

Overtime was lackluster, as both teams seemed to not want to make a mistake. After 5 minutes of play, the game would go into a shootout. The Rangers would choose Brendan Shanahan, Nigel Dawes, and Ryan Callahan to shoot. The Devils would counter with Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta, and Zach Parise. The Rangers would go first, and Shanahan would be stopped by Brodeur. Not to be outdone, Henrik Lundqvist stoned Langenbrunner. The Rangers would then send Nigel Dawes out. Dawes came in on Brodeur, faked a shot that froze Brodeur. While Brodeur was trying to reset, Dawes sent a shot on the ice the went 5 hold on Marty. Brodeur shook his head in disbelief. Lundqvist would then turn aside both Gionta and Parise to give the Rangers the 1-0 shootout win. Final score Rangers 2, Devils 1.

Notes* This is the first time the Rangers have beaten the Devils 6 times in one season since 1993-94, the same year the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. Also, Brodeur after the game called Dawes shot lucky, saying he missed his original shot. Dawes was informed of this later and shot back that he got him with a good fake, and the only problem he had with the shot, was the he didn't shoot it as hard as he wanted to.

Here are the Eastern Conference Standings as of before Thursday March 20.

Rank GP W L OT Pts
1 New Jersey Devils* 73 42 24 7 91
2 Montreal Canadiens* 74 40 24 10 90
3 Carolina Hurricanes* 75 40 30 5 85
4 Pittsburgh Penguins 73 41 25 7 89
5 Ottawa Senators 73 40 26 7 87
6 New York Rangers 74 39 26 9 87
7 Boston Bruins 73 37 27 9 83
8 Philadelphia Flyers 74 36 28 10 82

*Denotes division leader


Article used for Reference:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=280319011