Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that John Tortorella says the reason for the taxi squad which consists of Cam Talbot, Dylan McIlrath, Tim Erixon, Casey Wellman, Kris Newbury and J.T. Miller is "To have players ready to play in case we run into injuries."
...let's hope hope we're not seeing any of these guys in a Rangers jersey this Spring because it likely means a key injury for the Blueshirts. Great experience for the kids though.
Gross also adds that Chris Kreider joked about enjoying his virtual anonymity in New York City.
...that's one benefit to playing in such a big city where hockey is the fourth sport, you can walk around unnoticed and enjoy your personal life. Unlike if you're playing for a Canandian team where you'd be noticed even if you're wearing a full Batman costume.
Kreider also discussed difference between one-and-done College playoffs vs. NHL seven game series...
"You get to know a team a little bit better. It's funny, in college there's a kid who played in the ECHL and he was saying how much fun a seven-game series is. You get to know the other team. There's a lot more to it than one and done. You're going into the corner, most times, with particular guys. You get more familiar."
Finally, in Devils Land, Tom Gulitti at the Bergen Record reports that head coach Pete DeBoer reunited Zach Parise with Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk on the top line at this morning's practice and also put back together the second line of Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus and the third line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Adam Henrique and David Clarkson.
The fourth line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier was the only combination to remain intact.
...i guess when you're shutout, you feel like you need to shake things up. Won't affect what the Rangers are doing tonight.
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...let's hope hope we're not seeing any of these guys in a Rangers jersey this Spring because it likely means a key injury for the Blueshirts. Great experience for the kids though.
Gross also adds that Chris Kreider joked about enjoying his virtual anonymity in New York City.
...that's one benefit to playing in such a big city where hockey is the fourth sport, you can walk around unnoticed and enjoy your personal life. Unlike if you're playing for a Canandian team where you'd be noticed even if you're wearing a full Batman costume.
Kreider also discussed difference between one-and-done College playoffs vs. NHL seven game series...
"You get to know a team a little bit better. It's funny, in college there's a kid who played in the ECHL and he was saying how much fun a seven-game series is. You get to know the other team. There's a lot more to it than one and done. You're going into the corner, most times, with particular guys. You get more familiar."
Finally, in Devils Land, Tom Gulitti at the Bergen Record reports that head coach Pete DeBoer reunited Zach Parise with Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk on the top line at this morning's practice and also put back together the second line of Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus and the third line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Adam Henrique and David Clarkson.
The fourth line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier was the only combination to remain intact.
...i guess when you're shutout, you feel like you need to shake things up. Won't affect what the Rangers are doing tonight.
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Rangers-Devils Game 1 averaged 6.2% of NY area homes, best ever for this market on NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus and/or OLN).
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) May 15, 2012
...amazing how the game of hockey grows when the Rangers succeed. You'd think Bettman might take notice of this factor. I'm not saying the Rangers should receive preferential treatment, but he needs to find a way to capitalize on this. You know, by maybe not having a lockout next year similar to 1994-95 season.
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This pic is making its way around the internet (H/T to reader Bryan)...
...that trade had the potential to be more disasterous for the Rangers than McDonagh for Gomez was for the Canadiens.
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...that trade had the potential to be more disasterous for the Rangers than McDonagh for Gomez was for the Canadiens.
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Just because...
H/T to reader Dominick P.
And then there's this pic of David Clarkson that TheNYRBlog reader Jay A. took before Game 1...
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H/T to reader Dominick P.
And then there's this pic of David Clarkson that TheNYRBlog reader Jay A. took before Game 1...
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I received such an overwhelming response to my call for you guys to send me pics of your playoff beards, I had to break these down into different parts, 15 pics at a time...
Justin L...
Aaron L...
Brandon Douchebinsky...
To view more reader playoff beards, click the "Read More" tab below.
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Justin L...
Aaron L...
Brandon Douchebinsky...
To view more reader playoff beards, click the "Read More" tab below.
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To watch at NHL.com, click here.
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In the previous two playoff series this year, the Rangers have taken the opening game at Madison Square Garden, only to lose Game 2 and shift home ice to their opponent. They will be looking to avoid making it three straight when they take on the Devils in Game 2 tonight at the World's Most Famous Arena (via ESPN NY)...
Ryan McDonagh...
"It's a huge opportunity. We haven't done it before; it's made it a tougher road. It would be nice to, in a sense, make a stand on home ice and make that last win mean that much more."
Ryan Callahan...
"The last two series we've kind of let Game 2 slip away from us. We've got to make sure we're ready tomorrow.
"It'd be really good. The last two rounds, we haven't...it's been back and forth. We haven't had a two-game lead yet. In this type of playoffs, it's obviously important to get that. We're putting a lot of emphasis in tomorrow's game and trying to get that two-game lead."
...would be absolutely huge for the Rangers to finally take the 2-0 series lead that has eluded them all playoffs long. Will also be great for health of Rangers fans' hearts around the world.
...i think the Rangers have a great opportunity to get it as well, as the Blueshirts are a major step-up in competition for the Devils, who truly played inferior opponents in the first two rounds, and I'm hopeful it'll take them a couple of more games to raise their battle level to where it needs to be for this series.
Dave Lozo at NHL.com has more on this here.
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Ryan McDonagh...
"It's a huge opportunity. We haven't done it before; it's made it a tougher road. It would be nice to, in a sense, make a stand on home ice and make that last win mean that much more."
Ryan Callahan...
"The last two series we've kind of let Game 2 slip away from us. We've got to make sure we're ready tomorrow.
"It'd be really good. The last two rounds, we haven't...it's been back and forth. We haven't had a two-game lead yet. In this type of playoffs, it's obviously important to get that. We're putting a lot of emphasis in tomorrow's game and trying to get that two-game lead."
...would be absolutely huge for the Rangers to finally take the 2-0 series lead that has eluded them all playoffs long. Will also be great for health of Rangers fans' hearts around the world.
...i think the Rangers have a great opportunity to get it as well, as the Blueshirts are a major step-up in competition for the Devils, who truly played inferior opponents in the first two rounds, and I'm hopeful it'll take them a couple of more games to raise their battle level to where it needs to be for this series.
Dave Lozo at NHL.com has more on this here.
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Ken Campbell at The Hockey News feels that the Rangers are bad for hockey and he will be rooting against them in the Eastern Conference Finals because of their shot blocking strategy...
"...I've grown to hate blocked shots. It didn't used to be that way. There was a time when the blocked shot was an art, almost a thing of beauty, executed only by those players who could summon the courage to sacrifice their bodies to keep a puck from getting to the net. These days, though, there is no gallantry involved in blocking shots, otherwise everyone wouldn't be able to do it. Protected by the best equipment the game has ever seen, players are no longer the least bit hesitant to put themselves between a slapshot and the net because they know there's almost no chance they'll get hurt. That's why now when a guy winds up from the point, the defending team collapses in front of the net like a building being imploded. You call that exciting? I call it bloody maddening. But that's the kind of play that has been earning rave reviews throughout the playoffs.
And nobody does it with the frequency the Rangers do..."
Campbell also can't stand that the Rangers don't even pretend to forecheck when they get ahead by a single goal.
...how can The Hockey News consider themselves a legitimate source of hockey news when this guy is on staff? Another Rangers hit piece by a disgruntled member of the Canadian media who's sick of watching his teams lose. Assuming if the Maple Leafs were employing this strategy on the way to their first Stanley Cup since 1967 he'd be screaming their praise from the rooftops.
...why not take out a part of the game which exemplifies courage and sacrifice more than any other play in hockey? I'd much rather watch my team not do everything they can to win because it might be boring. Isn't the main premise of defense in the game of hockey to keep your opponent from scoring? When I watch the Rangers put their body on the line every night to help secure a victory it makes me proud to be a fan of the Blueshirts.
...and how is there no gallantry in blocking shots these days? Sure the equipment is better, but players are also shooting harder than ever, so guys like Callahan are routinely throwing themselves in front of 100+ mile per hour shots. Sounds pretty heroic to me. And Campbell may want to talk to Callahan, Boyle, Girardi, McDonagh and others on the Rangers about his statement that there's almost no chance of getting hurt blocking shots. I think they might disagree.
...also nice to see that Campbell just started watching the Rangers in the playoffs, because while their forecheck has been virtually non-existent during the postseason, it was the key to their offense all season long.
Meanwhile, fellow The Hockey News columnist Rory Boylen completely disagrees with Campbell.
Blocked shots was also all the talk at yesterday's optional practice for the Rangers.
Finally, Martin Brodeur gives his own suggestion for getting around the Rangers shot blocking prowess (via New York Post)...
"We might be able to hurt a few guys [by] hitting one-timers in the foot and their head or something.”
...Marty may want to worry more about trying to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard than helping his offense out. God I'd love if Avery was still on the team just to watch Brodeur squirm all series long.
...and Marty ain't to smart either. By saying this, he pretty much just put his team on notice with the NHL, almost guaranteeing a fine or suspension if they do start targeting Rangers players because of premeditation similar to when Phillies pitcher Hamels said he purposely threw at Nationals phenom Harper and was suspended accordingly.
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"...I've grown to hate blocked shots. It didn't used to be that way. There was a time when the blocked shot was an art, almost a thing of beauty, executed only by those players who could summon the courage to sacrifice their bodies to keep a puck from getting to the net. These days, though, there is no gallantry involved in blocking shots, otherwise everyone wouldn't be able to do it. Protected by the best equipment the game has ever seen, players are no longer the least bit hesitant to put themselves between a slapshot and the net because they know there's almost no chance they'll get hurt. That's why now when a guy winds up from the point, the defending team collapses in front of the net like a building being imploded. You call that exciting? I call it bloody maddening. But that's the kind of play that has been earning rave reviews throughout the playoffs.
And nobody does it with the frequency the Rangers do..."
Campbell also can't stand that the Rangers don't even pretend to forecheck when they get ahead by a single goal.
...how can The Hockey News consider themselves a legitimate source of hockey news when this guy is on staff? Another Rangers hit piece by a disgruntled member of the Canadian media who's sick of watching his teams lose. Assuming if the Maple Leafs were employing this strategy on the way to their first Stanley Cup since 1967 he'd be screaming their praise from the rooftops.
...why not take out a part of the game which exemplifies courage and sacrifice more than any other play in hockey? I'd much rather watch my team not do everything they can to win because it might be boring. Isn't the main premise of defense in the game of hockey to keep your opponent from scoring? When I watch the Rangers put their body on the line every night to help secure a victory it makes me proud to be a fan of the Blueshirts.
...and how is there no gallantry in blocking shots these days? Sure the equipment is better, but players are also shooting harder than ever, so guys like Callahan are routinely throwing themselves in front of 100+ mile per hour shots. Sounds pretty heroic to me. And Campbell may want to talk to Callahan, Boyle, Girardi, McDonagh and others on the Rangers about his statement that there's almost no chance of getting hurt blocking shots. I think they might disagree.
...also nice to see that Campbell just started watching the Rangers in the playoffs, because while their forecheck has been virtually non-existent during the postseason, it was the key to their offense all season long.
Meanwhile, fellow The Hockey News columnist Rory Boylen completely disagrees with Campbell.
Blocked shots was also all the talk at yesterday's optional practice for the Rangers.
Finally, Martin Brodeur gives his own suggestion for getting around the Rangers shot blocking prowess (via New York Post)...
"We might be able to hurt a few guys [by] hitting one-timers in the foot and their head or something.”
...Marty may want to worry more about trying to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard than helping his offense out. God I'd love if Avery was still on the team just to watch Brodeur squirm all series long.
...and Marty ain't to smart either. By saying this, he pretty much just put his team on notice with the NHL, almost guaranteeing a fine or suspension if they do start targeting Rangers players because of premeditation similar to when Phillies pitcher Hamels said he purposely threw at Nationals phenom Harper and was suspended accordingly.
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Unfortunately, us Americans are stuck watching NBC Network's coverage of the NHL and miss ridiculous game openings like this from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)...
H/T to reader Jayme L.
CBC also did an amazing job showing pregame festivities and pump-up video inside MSG before Game 1...
H/T to reader Shiva M.
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H/T to reader Jayme L.
CBC also did an amazing job showing pregame festivities and pump-up video inside MSG before Game 1...
H/T to reader Shiva M.
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John Tortorella discusses the Game 1 win over the Devils and how individual players have developed and contributed to the team this year and into the post-season...
For players thoughts on tonight's Game 2, click the "Read More" tab below.
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For players thoughts on tonight's Game 2, click the "Read More" tab below.
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Bergen Record - History lesson
New York Post - Girardi, McDonagh bolster Rangers’ defense
New York Post - Anisimov steps up at right time
New York Post - Hat's the way they like it
Daily News - Lupica: Kreider now a Varsity Blueshirt
Daily News - Blueshirts seek two-game cushion vs. Devils
Daily News - Big Blue DE Tuck a Giant Ranger fan
Daily News - McDonagh is looking like a Blueshirt bargain
Daily News - Rupp knows rivalry from each side of Hudson
Daily News - Anisimov earns straight A's for Rangers
New York Times - Rangers Adopt Team-First Refrain Once Voiced in Tampa Bay
New York Times - Absorbing Blows in a Battle Just Begun
New York Times - Remembering 1994: Q. and A. With Brian Leetch Wall Street Journal - Jason Gay: Lundsanity's No Passing Fad
Wall Street Journal - The Fortunate Rise of Ryan McDonagh
Newsday - Can Rangers finally win a Game 2?
Newsday - Rangers defensemen have been out front
Newsday - McDonagh's development accelerated
Newsday - Devils say they have a blockbusting plan
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New York Post - Girardi, McDonagh bolster Rangers’ defense
New York Post - Anisimov steps up at right time
New York Post - Hat's the way they like it
Daily News - Lupica: Kreider now a Varsity Blueshirt
Daily News - Blueshirts seek two-game cushion vs. Devils
Daily News - Big Blue DE Tuck a Giant Ranger fan
Daily News - McDonagh is looking like a Blueshirt bargain
Daily News - Rupp knows rivalry from each side of Hudson
Daily News - Anisimov earns straight A's for Rangers
New York Times - Rangers Adopt Team-First Refrain Once Voiced in Tampa Bay
New York Times - Absorbing Blows in a Battle Just Begun
New York Times - Remembering 1994: Q. and A. With Brian Leetch Wall Street Journal - Jason Gay: Lundsanity's No Passing Fad
Wall Street Journal - The Fortunate Rise of Ryan McDonagh
Newsday - Can Rangers finally win a Game 2?
Newsday - Rangers defensemen have been out front
Newsday - McDonagh's development accelerated
Newsday - Devils say they have a blockbusting plan
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Via Devils official website...
Through exclusive presales, the majority of the seats at The Rock for all Devils home games this series, are in the hands of Devils fans. However, seats remain on the secondary market for purchase and to ensure the we "Protect Home Ice" below are some ways in which you as Devils fans can ensure the Rock is PACKED in RED.
- If you own seats and have to sell for any of the home games because of conflicts, do NOT list your seats on the secondary market. Blogs such as Fire and Ice, In Lou We Trust, and HFBoards provide you with outlets to speak directly with other Devils fans who are looking for seats. This will ensure you are selling ONLY to other Devils fans. You can ask for pictures or meet them to deliver tickets, to ensure where their loyalty lies.
- If you are unsure about conversing on Devils blogs to sell your tickets, you can call the Devils Fan Experience Team line at 855-DEV-ARMY, and as a service they will help you sell your seats you can't use, to other Devils fans.
- If you do not own seats already, visit secondary market ticket sales websites including Ticket Exchange to purchase your tickets immediately. Thousands of seats still remain for both Rangers home games at The Garden. Therefore, there is a window right NOW, for Devils fans to swallow up all the remaining tickets for the upcoming Devils home games at the Rock. Seize that opportunity now while it is still available.
...with the Devils only having ten fans, there's no one else to sell their tickets to other than Rangers fans.
...not sure why they are discouraging Rangers fans from attending, it's the only time they sellout the Rock.
H/T to everyone who sent this to me.
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After last night's Game 1 loss to the Rangers the Devils talked about being better for Game 2 (via Bergen Record)...
Zach Parise...
"We have to be better and we know that and we will be. We played well for 40 minutes and that was it. And that last 20 we let slip away a little bit and they took advantage of it and that's the game right there."
Patrick Elias...
"They get a goal and all of a sudden we change our game a little bit. We can't do that. We have to learn from this game tonight. It doesn't matter what happens out there. We have to stay with our game."
...i've got to say, while I didn't expect a line brawl to start the game, I was shocked with the lack of nastiness and snarl to last night's game. I know sometimes it takes a game or two for the hatred to build up, but these two teams are long time rivals so I assumed they'd jump right into it as soon as the puck dropped.
...having said that I anticipate a much angrier game from the Devils tomorrow night, very similar to the one Ottawa brought in Game 2 of the first round when they dressed Carkner to jump Boyle. Wonder if DeBoer goes with the same strategy and dresses Janssen, who was a healthy scratch for Game 1.
...just to show how peaceful Game 1 was, did anyone even notice Clarkson on the ice last night. I usually want to strangle him after games against the Rangers and last night I didn't even notice him. Wonder if that had anything to do with Dubinsky and Avery not being in the line-up.
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Zach Parise...
"We have to be better and we know that and we will be. We played well for 40 minutes and that was it. And that last 20 we let slip away a little bit and they took advantage of it and that's the game right there."
Patrick Elias...
"They get a goal and all of a sudden we change our game a little bit. We can't do that. We have to learn from this game tonight. It doesn't matter what happens out there. We have to stay with our game."
...i've got to say, while I didn't expect a line brawl to start the game, I was shocked with the lack of nastiness and snarl to last night's game. I know sometimes it takes a game or two for the hatred to build up, but these two teams are long time rivals so I assumed they'd jump right into it as soon as the puck dropped.
...having said that I anticipate a much angrier game from the Devils tomorrow night, very similar to the one Ottawa brought in Game 2 of the first round when they dressed Carkner to jump Boyle. Wonder if DeBoer goes with the same strategy and dresses Janssen, who was a healthy scratch for Game 1.
...just to show how peaceful Game 1 was, did anyone even notice Clarkson on the ice last night. I usually want to strangle him after games against the Rangers and last night I didn't even notice him. Wonder if that had anything to do with Dubinsky and Avery not being in the line-up.
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Today at 1:45pm I'll be doing a Rangers/Devils Game 1 recap on Spreecast with Seth Everett of Fox Sports Radio, CBS Radio and NBC Sports Network and Max Herman of WFAN. You can watch below... ...
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Jess Rubenstein at The Prospect Park reports that Michael St. Croix (4th - 2011) had a goal and an assist on the game winning tally as the Edmonton Oil Kings defeated the Portland Winterhawks in Game 7 of the WHL Finals to capture the Championship.
St. Croix also made a huge defensive play to block a shot late in the third period to help clinch the win...
From Rubenstein...
"The biggest play for us was that St. Croix went down to block the shot when he really didn't have to. That one play illustrates the growth of Michael St. Croix from the guy who couldn't buy a point and the beginning of the season. He told us back in October that his number one goal was to improve defensively and that he did."
St. Croix ended the playoffs with 7g, 12a in 20 games. He had 45g, 60a during the regular season.
The Edmonton Oil Kings will now represent the WHL at the Memorial Cup.
...a sniper who's responsible defensively, sounds like someone Torts will fall in love with.
...of all the Rangers prospects, I feel St. Croix really established himself in the upper echelon of the organization with his performance this season.
St. Croix tweeted out this pic of him raising the WHL Championship trophy...
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St. Croix also made a huge defensive play to block a shot late in the third period to help clinch the win...
From Rubenstein...
"The biggest play for us was that St. Croix went down to block the shot when he really didn't have to. That one play illustrates the growth of Michael St. Croix from the guy who couldn't buy a point and the beginning of the season. He told us back in October that his number one goal was to improve defensively and that he did."
St. Croix ended the playoffs with 7g, 12a in 20 games. He had 45g, 60a during the regular season.
The Edmonton Oil Kings will now represent the WHL at the Memorial Cup.
...a sniper who's responsible defensively, sounds like someone Torts will fall in love with.
...of all the Rangers prospects, I feel St. Croix really established himself in the upper echelon of the organization with his performance this season.
St. Croix tweeted out this pic of him raising the WHL Championship trophy...
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