Not even the Refs can stop the Blue Shirts… 4-0

Rangers 4, Flyers 3

The Rangers have done everything they said they were going to do in the off-season. They got younger, faster, and better. Today’s score of 4-3 seems a lot closer than the game should have been. Goals allowed despite blatant goalie interferrence to keep the home town fans interested most notably swaying the balance of the game. The King wasn’t in net tonight, but Spiderman mask wearing Stephen Valiquette took care of business. If not for a great game from Philly’s back up tender this game would have featured a Chris Drury hat trick. After yesterday’s MSG opener, it was nice to see the Rangers sustain the lead for this entire game. Back to back games are the hardest to close out notoriously.

The forward glut remains on this team despite in game injuries to Sjostrom and Rissmiller, who both returned to the ice. This team is talented as they are fast, and hopefully they’ll be able to maintain this great start.

By Jeffrey Paul Louis Schiller

Blueshirts rinse and repeat… 2-0

Rangers 2, Lightning 1

The Rangers weren’t handling the face offs, or throwing the body more than their opponent, but they were out chancing the Lightning with speed and determination. The Rangers (or Jagr’s depending how you viewed the team over the last 3 seasons) of last year had a much slower pace to their game, but now everyone (even Colton Orr) have been given the green light, and these boys are firing at will. The first goal coming from free agent signing Wade Redden, who was brought here to do exactly what he did, put the puck in the net. The second goal came from a combination of multiple forward lines, a bunch of time in the attacking zone, and smart positioning. The fourth line of Voros-Betts-Orr took the zone, had a couple chances go the the boards, changed off (except for Voros), and led way to the Rangers getting the game winning goal in the second frame on a great screen from Voros that led to Gomez finding the puck long before Ollie the Goalie.

Petr Prucha still can’t get a break despite doing everything he can to be in the best position possible. It’s great he got to start both of these games after rumors of Renney scratching the Czech native, but the less he capitalizes on, the more we’ll be seeing of Dan Fritsche and Freddy Sjostrom. The King allowed one goal again, nailed his first lead commercial role (Is this the year?), and was the most dominant star on the ice in this series. The Lightning had chances to tie the game, but Lundqvist just wasn’t interested in sharing the glory in Prague. The new look Lightning didn’t look all that great in these games, but a sample size against a team they’ve been playing all month is hard to gauge the rest of the season on. I can say this much about them, Steve Stamkos is the man, and they’re going to love that guy for years to come.

Hopefully the Rangers can keep rolling, and get a great start to this season, unlike the previous two seasons where chemistry problems led to slow starts. When you ice a goalie as good as Lundqvist you’re in every game, so it should be interesting to see what this new look team can do.

By Jeffrey Paul Louis Schiller

Prediction Bust: Cubs swept, Dodgers already moving the the CS, and my World Series predictions out the window. Thanks Steve Bartman, or are we already (after four years) over that?

Rangers win season opener, outshoot Lightning 41:21

Rangers 2, Lightning 1

Markus Naslund was getting scoring chances at will, Scotty Gomez was faster than anyone on the ice, and the Rangers new captain has found his place on the top line. Petr Prucha still can’t find the other side of the goal line, and apparently the check magnet in his jersey is still working as well as ever, with him getting smashed into the boards any time he was near the puck in the offensive zone. King Henrik was one great backhander from Marty St. Louis away from a shut out. All rumors of injuries to he, and Marc Staal seem to be false enough for them to play at the tops of their games. The Rangers are still having PP problems (1-7), but the penalty kill was perfect in four chances. The Rangers season has already started, and Drury’s first game with the C leads to two points.

By: Jeffrey Paul Louis Schiller

New York Rangers new Captain

Chris Drury to wear the C on his jersey, Alternate captains; Gomez, Naslund: Sounds about right to me. There is no way Drury and Gomez were brought in without the promise of running the team on the ice. I loved Jagr, but I think in the big picture, he held this team back a bit.

Jerry Manuel inks 2 year contract: Why? I do not know.

Plaxico’s fine cut in half by Giants, still not playing against Seahawks: Justin Tuck is all for the suspension, so I can’t argue with that.