Apparently There Were Some Injuries Last Night (Girardi Ankle Not Broken)
The Bell Centre has been the Rangers "House of Horrors" the last few years, but last night it was taken to a whole new level.
Not only were the Rangers outplayed, they sustained injuries to key players that may have literally ended any chance the Rangers have of making the playoffs.
The first was to Ryan McDonagh, who according to Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record likely suffered a concussion on the play, when Max Pacioretty boarded him badly behind the net...
Now here's video of one of McDonagh's teammates jumping Pacioretty and pounding him into the ice...Oh wait, there is none because in typical Rangers fashion not a single Blueshirt even skated near the Montreal forward after the hit.
...and there's your problem Rangers fans. Absolutely no passion or emotion with this team. I'm not saying the Rangers shouldn't have traded Dubinsky for Nash or ridiculously overpaid from Prust, but man someone needs to grow a pair of balls on this team. Richards is supposed to be an alternate captain and he just stares at arguably the Rangers best defenseman get plastered into the glass.
...when your opponent doesn't fear you, this is what happens. They take liberties all game long without any worry of repercussions. And it doesn't have to come from Asham or Bickel. I saw more than once last year, players like Girardi and Boyle coming to the aid of teammates. So what the hell happened to this team's heart during the lockout? I can't figure it out.
The other injury was to Dan Girardi when he, as always, jumped into front of a 95mph PK Subban bomb and this happened...
X-rays on NYR Dan Girardi (blocked shot) are negative. Good news, although some bone bruises can be as painful/debilitating as a fracture.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2013
...talk about a lucky break (no pun intented). Thought for sure his ankle was broken. Although, he still may miss a few weeks.
...i know Torts loves the blocked shot, but at what expense. The Rangers already had a season lost with a Cally broken leg on a Chara blocked shot and last year a revived Zuccarella was also fallen for the same reason. You have to wonder if it's time to scrap this strategy. Especially when they have a Vezina winning goaltender behind them.
...and you'd think if the Rangers are dedicated to the blocked shot, they'd at least know how to do it correctly. Girardi needs to be straight up so the puck hits his padding not an exposed area like his ankle. Although, I still have no idea what he's even doing out there on the penalty kill in a 3-0 game in the closing minutes.
...if these two are lost for a long period of time, I'm not sure how they survive it. Especially with Del Zotto ailing as well. Obviously Eminger can be re-inserted, but they still need at least one more guy. McIlrath? Trade?
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Why all the panic for for God's sake? They havent played well this year yet they are 8-7-2 and 3 points from 7th in the conference with 2 games in hand. They are not 0-17 people. Now, if Nash, Girardi, Powe, McDonagh, Asham are all out for long stretches then maybe I'll panic but not now. This team will make the playoffs and thats all that matters.
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@RoBC610 The panic is certainly justified. The Rangers are not playing like they did a season ago, and that is worrisome. Gaborik and Richards(etc) are ghosts,and the team plays with no urgency or heart.
This team was built to advance further this season. Let's hope they even make the playoffs.
Someone should send the coach out there to block a few shots! Thats what the f***ing goalie is for!
This team has no balls. I can't believe no one even attempted to stick up for McDonagh..Shanahan is a gutless joke too. Can't wait to hear his spin on why no fine or suspension
Hey big shock shanny has lived up to his reputation as an oxygen thief yet again - no fine or penalty for the hit on McD!
@TheNYRBlog re. blocked shots: when successful you risk serious injury, if not , often times you create screen for other team
Watching that hit on McD makes me irate. First off, that smirk on Pacioretty as he skated away. This is from the same guy who almost got beheaded by Chara. How does not a single player confront him on this hit?
Screw a suspension. Asham should have pounded his face in or something.
This team is gutless and playing like a bunch of wussies. It's so damn frustrating.
Someone find Theo Fleury and see if he wants to play.
What happened to this guy Mashinter, when those type of players come up usually they want to drop the gloves. I think it is all Torts fault, I think everyone is afraid to make a mistake for the fear of what may happen. When that happens there is a problem...
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I agree with you slapshot. Mashinster is excited to be called up. Doesn't want to make a mistake. Tries to impress the coach with "smart" play with the limited ice time he's going to get. It's up to the coach to "set him free" mentally....
Quick story...I l played semi pro for a few years. I was 5'10 1/2...weight fluctuated between 175-180lbs. I played defense. I was at best a 6th Dman.. stay at home...not the best skater. But I had a good upper body strength...was physical...had a nasty steak....not afraid to use my stick liberally on an opponent.
Had a friend who knew a coach, got a try-out...made the team. My first game, I was so excited. I was determined to make the Coach proud...and in the process...didn't really play my game. I didn't want to take a dumb penalty. My coach "set me free" mentally late in the first period....
He told me.."stop trying to be a hockey player because you're not. Now go play your type of game". I finished the game with a two minors(cross-checking, slashing) one major(fighting..because of the slash.)...should have been two majors...got away with a nice butt-end..:)....
When it comes to young players who play a physical game....its up to the coach to "set them free"....so they play like the players they are...not like players they're not.
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There have been too many games like this in this half season. No energy, no flow, no skill, no grit. It's even trickled down to the King some games. Most of this season has been unwatchable. Hockey has fallen into a horrible state. Analyze the Ranger games. (if you can stay awake) Really watch them. Every shift. Can't figure out what to do with the puck - just flip it up in the air and pray it isn't icing. If you manage to get into the zone on offense....cycle on the boards, endlessly reversing - never get a shot and then blindly pass it to where no Ranger is. End of attack. Be totally inept on every power play. Out of position?...throw yourself in front of the shots instead of taking the man or relying on your goalie. Repeat. That's a Ranger game. Nash deal was good and he was playing well. Dubinsky wasn't helping this team win - no matter how anyone wants to re write history. He rarely fought and couldn't score and ALWAYS demanded raises. I don't miss him. Richards plays like a second liner and this season not even close to that. I think he has huge sacks of cash in his pants slowing him down on the ice. Gaborik is invisible most nights. How come they don't get sent down for conditioning stints? Wouldn't that be accountability and send a message? Now all these injuries are wrecking any chance we have of getting it together and squeaking into the playoffs with low scoring and good defense. Last years success is a faded memory.There's a lot of blame to put on the lockout, the coaching and the injuries. The good thing is now we'll have to play some of the kids more. The bad thing is now we'll have to play some of the kids more. Despite my criticisms, I love me some Rangers, but honestly most of our kids are grinders. Does anyone think Stepan or Miller or Mashinter or Thomas is going to blossom into a 1st line center/winger? We haven't had one of those come up for a long time. And Torts is NOT a coach who helps youth grow. He helps youth get front row seats on the bench. We'll see what he does now. It's gonna be a LONG short season. Seriously, F those #1 in the East predictions....they are bad luck! Don't believe the hype boys. I hope they can find something to rally around and pull it together. I'm not confident. Boo Hoo.
@AveryYesBettmanNo Thanks for saying what I've been thinking for a while now. You nailed it. Watching this team play on TV makes me remember all the more important things I should be doing. Last night was a complete waste of time.
@AveryYesBettmanNo Brilliant description of how we play. Well done. lol
"...just flip it up in the air and pray it isn't icing. If you manage to get into the zone on offense....cycle on the boards, endlessly reversing - never get a shot and then blindly pass it to where no Ranger is. End of attack. Be totally inept on every power play. Out of position?...throw yourself in front of the shots instead of taking the man or relying on your goalie. Repeat."
Best post of the year right here boys!!
My entire recap last night said the exact same thing you did about the Pacioretty hit. It's a disgrace. Although if Girardi doesn't have a broken ankle, I'm beginning to think there really are Hockey Gods on our side and maybe we get lucky McDonagh is okay too. Would like news he took the plane back with the boys to confirm that though...
@_Jack I know. That's why I said the fact his ankle isn't broken leads me to believe there are Hockey Gods on our side. Although it could just be Girardi isn't human lol.
I think it's time to hit the panic button!!! I'm just disgusted by this team and that they lack no heart and have forgotten to score! I say make a trade to shake things up!!!
Just saw this but if anyone thinks Shanny is going to rule in our favor -FORGEDDABOUDIT
Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty faces a hearing Sunday afternoon with the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety for an incident in a Saturday night game against theNew York Rangers.
Pacioretty was assessed a minor for boarding Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh at the 7:20 mark of the second period of the game at the Bell Center. McDonagh left the game and did not return.
The Department of Player Safety will be examining boarding and/or charging infractions as the basis for potential Supplemental Discipline during the hearing.
Holy crap. If he doesn't get at least 3 games we should march on to Shanny's office. How could Hagelin get 3 games in the playoffs for a lesser shot on Alfredsson? This to me would show there is a bias against our team.
@jslnyr1102 @chrisD Shanny is a god awful JOKE - remember Shea Webber's turnbuckle WWF hit in the playoffs last season... The penalties should revolve around who gets hurt - its either an infraction or it isn't. It shouldn't matter a slew foot (sp) etc. is wrong regardless of injury, or if the player has a rep, or a past history!
Is it possible the coaches told the players to cut out the fighting and even the pushing after the whistle after Callahan got hurt in that fight against the Flyers? They had 8 fights in the 6 games to start the season before his injury and have had only 1 fight in the 11 games since.
@_Jack I know that it was a fluke and don't think thats a reason to stop being tough but Im wondering if the thought of losing on of their top players lead the coaches to tel the players to stay away from that kind of play.
Asham's game has changed. Which makes me believe that this is a coaching issue. In the Boston game, Asham was on the ice with Powe when McQuaid absolutely crushed Powe against the boards. Asham was right there when the hit took place.
You could see Asham intially begin to skate towards McQuaid...but then hesitated for a second and then turned around and skated up ice.
Asham's initial thought was to go after McQuaid. But then you could actually see him thinking about what to do. Asham has never had to think about what do to in those situations. His natural instinct is to react. The fact that he was thinking about what to do, makes me believe that the coaching staff told the players to cut down on the fighting.
This needs to change quick, fast and in a hurry before we lose any more players to injury. The book is out on the 2013 Rangers. Opposing coaches and players know the deal. The Rangers are a physically weak team...and they don't stand up for each other....which means liberties can be taken with the skilled players.
On a side note, Richards needs to have that A ripped off his jersey....asap.
@Jbianco @_Jack Thats what Ash is supposed to be for... He's showing better playing skills than Rupper, but is just as useless at defending his teammates! At least Rupper would drop the gloves even if he did get his ass handed to him. I appreciate playing smart and NOT taking a bad penalty, but his job in theory is as an agitator and enforcer... and so far he sucks!
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last years team is long gone. this one has leadership problems. so far all the leadership has done is muster up the balls to go tell torts that they dont want to practice this season and would rather watch video. they all look like they are still locked out except for some who started bad and got their legs recently (hags, step). now the injuries. bad ones to people that are needed to play beyond what they can already. this is looking pretty bad. what makes me angry is the lack of heart and not sticking up for each other. if youre gonna lose, LOSE. just dont let you or your team mates get pushed around. that's shameful.
strip the A from richards. give it to someone else. give it to a guy who will block a shot in a game that is lost. that'll get richards' attention. if he has problems off the ice, he should take a personal day or two and take care of it. hes not doing anyone any favors by turning over the puck, staring that 3000 yrd stare of his on the bench or simply NOT SKATING.
lets not forget that there is a very concrete and finite window here for this organization/regime to win a cup before the team gets blown up due to UFA statuses ect. etc.
it's either this year, or the next. and guess what? all of the traction gained last year is fucking gone.
theyre NOT a team. theyre a bunch of guys who have working relationships with each other.
my eyes are now pointed at the coaches and the leadership.
disgusting.
Haley has played well for the Whale.I think Mashinter should stay up instead.He is more skilled.Torts has to let him pick his fights though.We have to protect our skillplayers,teams were running them last year too.I knew this was going to be a problem if the officials let things go.
From Dale Rolfe being pummeled to Marc Staal being leveled by his own brother to McD being boarded, sadly this organ-eye-zation has rarely showed any sort of "come to the aid" response. Gravy for Mess is about the only example I can think of and ironically, Mark could take care of himself. As for McD, we may not be as lucky re: eventual recovery as we were with Marc's. Let's hope so. And don't count on any suspension if Shanny can't even suspend a guy for blatantly severing someone's Achilles tendon with their skate! Of course, a big <whew!> on Girardi's ankle not being broken but still, and with all due respect, why on Earth did he go down to block a shot during a penalty kill with less than 2 minutes left in a 3-zip game....facing SUBBAN, no less?!...Force of habit? Fear of being benched next game? Doing his "best" Cally-Chara imitation? The world may never know...
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Maybe it's time to get rid of Mike Sullivan and put in someone like Adam Graves as an assistant to teach these guys some heart and grit. Gravsie was never one to back away from sticking up for his teammates and was a great player and no where near a goon. Sorry to say this but this team might be feeling the lack of energy from the fans at MSG this season - they priced out the real fans and the few games I went to there are hardly any 'LGR' chants, no 'Henrik!' chants when he makes a good save and not to mention the 'Potvin sucks!' chants. The place has become a place to sit in a luxury box and drink a $20 beer and eat sushi and not go to a hockey game. Sorry fornthe rant, but it all adds up.
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@kingmessier Great rant but only one problem ... Sadly you can't teach heart and grit which is what this team sorely lacks.
@TruBluEsp Thanks for reading. I know it's hard to teach heart and grit, but SOMETHING has to be done, you don't go from almost going to the Stanley Cup finals on the backs of a hardworking and gritty effort to the three ring circus we have now. At the end of the day it's the fans that pay these guys salaries and their recent showings have been a smack in the face to those fans.
Anybody know much about Healy up at The Whale? We signed him as a free agent over the summer. He was with the Isles. He was supposed to be have balls?
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@jslnyr1102 Haley most likely has balls, but personally I don't think calling up a guy whose only job is to fight is going to solve our problems. All it will do is decrease the chance of Torts rolling 4 lines. The players already on the roster have to start getting angry.
Hey Coontz....
Haley is fearless...toughness and sticking up for teammates is not his problem. Haley can be used as a weapon, to intimidate and as a deterrent. It's up to the coach to use him properly.
You dont have to use a player like Haley just on the fourth line. Take last night's game as an example. McDonagh gets his face plowed into the boards. One of our better players gets hit like that...a retaliatory message has to be sent. You put Haley on the wing with the first or second line. Get him matched up with the other team's skilled players....and have him take run at one of their scorers. Have him look to lay someone out with an open ice hit, or get one of their skilled players on the boards....take a charge if necessary....or go in high and hard with elbow or stick.
The message has to be sent....you take out one of our players....we are going to go after one of yours.
@TheNYRBlog This is where Prust and Even Colton Orr would be valuable. Never would let that happen.
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I have to wonder if Torts is to blame for lack of toughness. He benches guys for entire periods for getting a penalty so maybe these guys are afraid to get a roughing call. Either way I think it could be a blessing in disguise to have McIlrathh called up for a few games. He has shown he will stick up for his teammates and isn't afraid of anyone. Add to that him trying to prove he belongs on this team and hopefully there will be someone for other teams to fear
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This team is lost and boring to watch. I so wanted to hang with these boys last season when there chemistry and heart defined the team. I find there lack of camaraderie and spark an insult to the fans. Lackluster at best. I was never a fan of goon fights in the NHL, but to not send messages to an aggressive opponent is pee wee hockey. You heard me before and here it is again....I miss Avery. Also, with my 20/20 hindsight...maybe $2.5M for Prust was not a bad deal considering what the Rangers bankrolled for our sleeping snipers.
Time for Blueshirts to unite & band together! Hit on Mac-NO response from the NYR-unacceptable!!!!
@TheNYRBlog Kevin.. would that have happened in 80's 90's? Tie Domi would have left the bench to stick up for Leetch! #Whussies! #noHeart!
@TheNYRBlog still for the life of me dont understand why they only got a 2 min minor for that hit ?? Eventhough a 5min still woulda sucked.
This team is soft as Charmin. Our best forward and best Dman get run into the boards from behind and the rest of this nutless team just stands there. Zero team toughness.
