I've seen the (Tim Horton's) sign

I've been feeling a little down and worried about our 2009-10 roster this week. Sure we've got Gaborik in the picture, but who will be his linemates? Then Zherdev fucks around with his very solid qualifying offer, opting for arbitration. It pisses me off to think we gave up Tyutin for Zherdev just for Nik to bugger off to the KHL after a half-assed effort last season. Not only Tyuts, but Sather opted to qualify Nik in lieu of perhaps signing Antropov or my beloved Freddie. Completely suck. Then there's the whole Brashear issue. I might have said this before, but man that peeps diorama has been nothing but a jinx. First we lose to the Caps in the first round. Then they lose to the Pens who then go on to win the cup. To cap off the curse we actually let Orr walk and sign Brashear in his place. Larry Brooks had a pretty scathing take on this move. I totally concurred, but then my heart softened when I read this Washington Post piece from last May. Who knew Brashear had so much in common with Harry Potter? Sean Avery better watch out because Brashear's life would make for a much better movie. Ok, maybe a Lifetime movie, but still compelling. I hope they room together and bond over their mutual love of Phillipe Starck.

So here I am getting stressed over something that 1. I have no control over and 2.Isn't much of an issue until mid-September. Part of the problem is the lack of Hockey coverage - no NHL on the Fly, no Hockey Night in Canada radio. Totally understandable because there is no hockey Dollie, thus nothing to cover! I keep refreshing Yahoo! Sports hoping for relevant news to no avail. But then today two good things happened. We signed Ales Kotalik, formerly of the Sabres and recently of the Oilers. Don't know much about him but he kinda looks like Chad Hunt(nsfw) in this photo. Good enough for me. He should don a shirt and drop that towel. Our Czech contingent is getting bigger by the minute!

Then I heard great news. 13 Dunkin Donuts locations are being magically transformed into Tim Horton's franchises by Monday morning. Not only that but 3 of them are in close proximity to MSG. I've long been addicted to Tim's incomparable cocoa, and their Timbits kick Munckin ass. In the past I've gritted my teeth every time hockey coverage has shown the Tim Horton's logo adorning the boards of opposing rinks. How dare these enemy teams have access to that delicious cocoa? Now our boards can be Hortonriffic too! I think it's an omen of success and fun for the upcoming season, thus burying all of my previous doubts. Ok, not quite, but at least the games will be tastier. Note of caution: "Toujour Frais" means "Always Fresh", not "Always Strawberries"! It's a common translation problem with only a passing knowledge of French. Bottoms up!

Raise your sticks to the King!

I knew those towels would do the trick. While I'm not totally behind the Garden faithful swinging white towels, that image, that feeling of twirling it means the playoffs to me. I'm sure I'm not alone because there was a palpable positive energy at MSG last night - on the ice, in the stands - it was beautiful.

Everyone knows I think the world of Henrik Lundqvist, but I can't remember being more proud of him than in this series, and most especially last night. He was just plain brilliant. I know that this is what he's capable of, that's why some of the losses are so hard to stomach. He's simply the best and my favorite. I think chances are good that he can steal another one of the next three, hopefully Friday night. Of course Henrik had help. Another 13 blocked shots and the team in front did a much better job of keeping the Caps on the outside than last game. If we can just stay fohcoosed, this series is ours.

Here's to Henrik and the Rangers - thank you boys!

ps. Who doesn't want to see Paul Mara's beard a month from now? I think the refs' calls should tilt in our favor, champion the cause.

pss. Had a brush with our Russian superstars Zherdev and Antropov last night. Ovechkin reminds me of a sexy Rasputin, but man...Antropov is like a Russian Apollo. Dude is handsome.

putting the Peepitals to bed

Just a few last angles of the Peepitals before they get too crunchy and all their colorful sugar falls off. Notice the yellow laces on Ovie's skates. Fedorov had a pair too, but unfortunately his line was relegated to the bench. Maybe Jagr Peep can wear them in our KHL diorama. And also Brashear's view from the penalty box. Mike and I weren't sure if adding him was in poor taste, but it felt wrong without him. If we'd known this project wasn't WaPo bound we'd have added a little more blood - on the ice, on the boards, in the stands - basically everywhere.


Game 1 tomorrow, I'm all hopeful and anxious. My goal is to steal one of these road games, preferably both. I know it's unrealistic to expect a repeat of the 2007 Atlanta series, but a girl can hope. What are the chances that Zherdev and Antropov are furiously teaching Avery some choice words in Russian? Maybe all 3 will be chirping their way into a series win. That would be beautiful.

dreams and nightmares

Great game last night. Beautiful laser by Drury for the 1st tally of the game. Unfortunately the Ducks tied it up. It looked like the Rangers were headed for another overtime session when Dawes skated in, passed around mutant defenseman Chris Pronger, and threw the puck at the net where it just tricked through the pads. Unlikely and brilliant. Zherdev added the empty net without the puck ever crossing the line when he was tripped up by you guessed it, Norris trophy winner Chris Pronger. Nik was automatically awarded the goal with the clear breakaway thwarted. Just plain awesome. Also Henrik was fabulous and back in form. Now let's take care of Los Angeles.

As an added bonus, my subconscious gave me a Christmas present last night with a dream in which Freddie was my date to a game. We were cuddling in the stands and there was a palpable feeling of fondness between us. Maybe some inappropriate PDA, but mostly just resting my head on his beautiful shoulder.


In not so great news, Mats Sundin is supposed to choose between Vancouver and New York by Thursday. Our Swedish contingent - Freddie, Henrik and Naslund tried to romance him this past weekend by taking him out. My friend Mike asked, "Where'd they take him to, IKEA?" Also in a nightmarish preview of what could be, the MSG crew cannot help show Sundin during every break but the only footage they have is him lording about in a shadowy skybox like the evil emperor. Check out the photo to the left if you forgot how ugly Sundin is.

Suck it Pittsburgh!

I hate to give the Pens a point, but much like the last matchup against them, this was more like taking a point away. Although our defense was a little spotty like usual (could we clear the puck boys?) we played this game with a lot of grit and a buttload of edge (thank you Colton Orr!). The fans roared every time Crosby hit the deck, which was blissfully often.

Zherdev broke the scoreless streak with a beautiful deflection and pretty Petr Prucha tied the game up with his first in nearly a year. Saving the good stuff is our Prucha. Hopefully he unleashes some more magic against Montreal and Carey Price tonight.

Just one complaint ultimately. I know our power play leaves a little to be desired, but when Colton Orr works his considerable ass off to force a double minor don't piss it away with a bench minor. It was inevitable that Pittsburgh was going to score 4on4 - hell they might have given up a shortie, but you've got to give that 4 mins your whole effort.

getting it done the wrong way

It may look like Dubinsky has scored, but he's really celebrating his good buddy Zherdev's tally. My man Nikolai was all over the ice last night. I cannot believe he walked away with only one point. It was a skilled little scoop play that eluded the goalie and a defenseman. I hope Z teaches the rest of the team both that move and that roofer from tight in he scored in October because everybody else has the tendency to keep pounding the puck right into the opposing goalie's pads, resulting in fuck all on the scoreboard and a very frustrated fan base.
Anyway we didn't play as soundly as the Wednesday night even though the stories were nearly identical: establish a lead, piss it away with little over a minute left, scrambly OT, win in a shootout. Even Naslund and Zherdev scored in the SO to win us the game. Henrik's saves helped a little too. Also I'd like to give a shoutout to Rozsy who's played two good games in a row and Colton Orr who single handedly made the 3rd goal possible. How did he not get an assist on that play, oh wait he did!

Now let's show the last team in the East what the number one team can really play like tomorrow afternoon.

Thank you Rangers!

We've made a clean sweep of Tampa Bay, but this one was a little dirtier than the other 3. Plenty of hits, plenty of fights: Orr on Artyukhin, Orr on Koci, Zherdev on Stamkos!!!! I'm surprised Smith didn't have a little discussion with Voros again. The talking heads on the NHL channel said that sometimes new players (like Stamkos) have to show they cannot be bullied and it reminded me of OZ. Is the NHL like a giant prison and all the inmates/players have to show their mettle so they don't get raped? I wish Zherdev just started chewing on Stamkos. That would have been worth a game or two suspension.Oh, also Naslund scored twice in regulation and the game winner in the shootout.Zherdev mixed it up and added to his point totals and Henrik was solid yet again. Enjoy your turkey boys and lets shiv those Panthers this weekend.

ps.I forgot to mention my two favorite parts of the game. One was the uncharacteristically loud women miked in the stands. It helped that she was a Rangers fan and kept shrieking throughout the game, "Get him, Yeah that's it!" Fabulous. The second was the quick kiss Dubinsky gave Zherdev's visor after Z was totally baffled by his shootout goal. It was as if Dubi felt Nik's confusion was too precious to let pass. I'm with you Dubi.

Thank you Henrik!

I'm wondering if I should just start tuning into Rangers games with 10 minutes to go in the 3rd because that is where all the good action has been in recent weeks. Last night was another lackluster start followed by a rousing comeback (even if it was only one goal!) and a win in the shootout. If it wasn't for Henrik's spectacular play the Rangers would have these surmountable deficits to overcome. I would love to think we could recover from 0-5 down, but I cannot quite picture it. This comeback was especially good because Freddie scored to even it and Zherdev scored the game winner in the shootout.Plus Henrik was 3-3 in saves. Like I said, thank you Henke!

Ottawa has some nasties on their team. Luckily Chris Neil was sidelined, but our good guys in blue had to deal with that bitch Jarkko Ruutu all night.His ugly mug was all up in everyone's face, and Jarkko was such a baby he flicked the rebound of his lost shootout attempt right back at Henrik. Can't wait to see some retribution meted his was on saturday afternoon.

back on track

As I've said before beating the Devils is extra pleasurable, but in the case of last night's game losing would have been devastating. The Devs are so depleted it would have been impossible to stomach Oduya as the number one star. Well, it didn't happen despite a scramby first period ending with NJ 1 goal ahead. Chico (yes, we watched the MSG + feed, yuk!) was already picking out the Rangers' coffin during the first intermission, a little prematurely because we stormed back with a 4 goal 2nd. That evasive scoring finesse materialized out of nowhere.



I don't know why we can't be this effective every game. I must give a shout out to Henrik of course who was excellent and our PK. Freddie and Blair Betts were exceptional as usual. Those 3 players have won us games and saved us from considerable embarrassment in others. I love all 3.

A lot to enjoy. Zherdev potted 2 and the celebration didn't end with a pileup. Good job boys.

I love me some Zherdev

I just had a feeling about Zherdev when we traded for him. Thank heavens that trade has turned out so well or the hurt of losing Tyuts would be too much. I just love Nik. Love his face. Love his shot. Love his Swayze Dirty Dancing on his knees goal celebration pose. And he has been the offensive powerhouse in 3 of the last 4 games. No much can beat the goal against the Pens with 8 seconds left, but against the Thrashers on thursday he managed a brilliant goal, a brilliant backcheck and a brilliant pass to ensure us the win. Thank you Nik - you're the best!

Zherdev's the shit!

Please Hockey Gods, do not let the fortunes realign. For once we're the team that can come back, tie it up with seconds left and realize 2 points seemingly from nowhere. And I love it. Especially against the Pens. The last twenty seconds of regulation was a dream - Crosby's long stab at the open net misses wide and Zherdev comes down on the right -passes up a pass- and beats Fleury soundly. Just beautiful. Overtime not so much, but Henrik bails out the team and Freddie secures his 2nd win with a shootout goal. All in all a terrific night on the ice.

Let's hope there's not a hangover on the Island tomorrow night because those fishsticks will be gunning for us with intensity, especially after dropping three in a row. We've got to stop relying on our good fortune and makeour own with a 60 min effort.

It took Tom Renney getting knocked on the head to kickstart a sense of urgency from his team. The Rangers looked damned good in the 2nd half of this game beating Columbus (and our lost Tyuts) very handily. Zherdev looked fantastic, Henrik stood strong, PK was great (thank you Betts & Freddie). Marc Staal was strangely aggressive clotheslining at least 2 jackets - some of Mara's snarl must be rubbing off - is a lumberjack beard far behind for our young defenseman? Unfortunately I don't think he can grow one. Nash must have been very frustratedd because he kept Freddie in a headlock for long time at the end of the game despite two refs trying to pry him off - maybe because Freddie is so sleek and pretty and Nash has a big potato head. Although I'll take Nash face anyday over Crosby and Malkin who unfortunately we play tonight. We can't lt those ugly MF's get any points tonight.




ps. Looks like Mats Sundin has finally picked a new team.

4-0 and it sure feels good!

After the Montreal game last year and Game 1 v. Pittsburgh, no lead seems safe, but through some diligent penalty killing and terrific goaltending by the fabulously frosted Vali the Rangers survived the dreaded 4 goal lead last night. My man Zherdev opened up the scoring then the best fourth line ever Freddie-Betts-Orr potted two goals. You know you're having a great night when Betts puts up two points. I say that with love. And we held on with that same line's gritty PK. Love it. Please let the winning continue. No wins for Brodeur on our watch.