Another Year of Inconsistent Hockey

60 minutes; that's what a regulation hockey game is. At some point, someone needs to inform the NY Rangers or some day, some way, maybe it will set in with them.

Fresh off their surprising opening night win in Buffalo on Friday, the Rangers went out to the Mausoleum in Long Island to play their hated rivals, the New York Islanders, on Monday afternoon.

I only saw the 2nd period of play live. A period in which the Rangers dominated, but gave up a late goal to go into the third period tied 3-3.

The Rangers have had a habit of taking bad penalties the last few seasons and it continued in today's game. Now granted, the first call which led to the game breaking 5 on 3 power play was a questionable one. Ryan Callahan went off for a tripping, a trip that coach John Tortorella said was non-existent. That being said, Marc Staal went off shortly thereafter and the Islanders took advantage, netting a pair of power play goals.

As usual, the Mausoleum crowd was sparse, and in this particular case, was filled with many Rangers fans.

Rick Di Pietro stopped Marian Gaborik on a 1st period penalty shot.

It's The Rangers Victory Song

No, not Texas..they couldn't pull off the sweep tonight, dropping a 6-3 decision.

But another Rangers team, those Broadway Blueshirts who make their living in Madison Square Garden, won their season debut tonight.

The New York Rangers doubled up the Buffalo Sabres by the identical 6-3 score. The most amazing part of the road win? Rookie Derek Stepan became just the 4th rookie in NHL history to score a hat trick in his debut.

Brandon Dubinksy scored a pair of goals, including an empty netter, and King Henrik stopped 33 shots.

Doubleheader Disaster

Sabathia Spanked in Attempt at 20

There was a possibility of the aforementioned "Sportsgasm" tonight. Afterall, CC Sabathia was going for his 20th win in the Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game and the New York Rangers were opening their NHL season with a road game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

"Nightmare on Elm Street" was more like it. The team lost both games, though the Rangers at least made a game of it.

Things started out poorly for CC Sabathia and only got worse. He lasted on 2-plus innings and got charged with nine runs, five of which were earned. His night ended by firing his glove into a collection of water bottles on the bench. In CC's first and last starts the season he was 0-2 with a 12.86 ERA. It was also Sabathia's first loss since July 28.

Things started out even worse for the Yankees when fireballer David Price hit Mark Teixeira in the left shoulder during the 1st inning. It was apparently in retaliation for Sabathia hitting Carlos Pena with a pitch on September 7. It ended Pena's season, though he still leads the AL with 39 HRs. (Got a good laugh when it was reported on Twitter that the Rays announcer said it started the Rays downward spiral. The Rays have sucked from the get go gents.)

It was a big night for the Rays' B.J. Upton. He started his night with a fine running catch in center field and then became the first Tampa Bay Ray to hit for the cycle. And he completed teh feat in the 5th inning! Upton started with the hardest hit, a triple, followed by a double, home run, and finally a single. He wasn't done either, adding another single for a 5-5, 6 RBI night.

On the bright side, Juan Miranda hit his first major league home run.

You Hockey Puck

The Rangers had to endure the opening night ceremonies in Pittsburgh, which included raising the championship banner and seeing the Stanley Cup, which has not touched Rangers hands since 1994.

The Pens tallied first on their killer power play, but Chris Drury tied it in the 1st period, off a nice feed from new Ranger Chris Higgins. But the Pens quick strike offense put together two second period goals in just a 1:08 span.

First Sidney Crosby cleaned up a loose puck in front, putting it past Henrik Lundqvist for his first goal of the season. Some sloppy play in front then led to a Tyler Kennedy goal for a 3-1 lead.

The Rangers put pressure on Marc Andre-Fleury in the third period and the Rangers biggest offensive acquisition, Marian Gaborik lit the lamp to cut the lead to 3-2 at 5:56. But that would be it for the night, as the Rangers went 0-4 with the man advantage.

Team		Shots on Goal						Faceoffs				Power Plays
		1st	2nd	3rd	Total			Won	Lost			Converted	Total
NY Rangers		7	12	8	27			28	28			0	4
Pittsburgh		9	12	10	31			28	28			1	2

NY Rangers Do Letterman's Top 10

Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

Time for one of the most exciting times of the year. The NHL playoffs. What seems like endless weeks of checking, shooting, slashing, and saving. Kind of sounds like East LA. We're pumped up about our New York Rangers. They're ready for a hard-nosed, physical series with the home state New Jersey Devils. And oh how we loathe Devils.

Here our 1st Round Predictions:

Eastern Conference

Rangers exorcise the Devils in 7
Penguins impeach the Senators in 5
Canadians ruin the Bruins in 5
Capitals ground the Flyers in 6.

Western Conference

Red Wings slay the Predators in 6
Sharks douse the Flames in 7
Wild goes crazy on the Avalanche in 6
Ducks peck out the Stars in 5

Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

Time for one of the most exciting times of the year. The NHL playoffs. What seems like endless weeks of checking, shooting, slashing, and saving. Kind of sounds like East LA. We're pumped up about our New York Rangers. They're ready for a hard-nosed, physical series with the home state New Jersey Devils. And oh how we loathe Devils.

Here our 1st Round Predictions:

Eastern Conference

Rangers exorcise the Devils in 7
Penguins impeach the Senators in 5
Canadians ruin the Bruins in 5
Capitals ground the Flyers in 6.

Western Conference

Red Wings slay the Predators in 6
Sharks douse the Flames in 7
Wild goes crazy on the Avalanche in 6
Ducks peck out the Stars in 5

Lets Go Rangers!!!

Yankee Stadium is getting closer to having the New York Rangers and the NHL close out the grand old place with an outdoor hockey contest. Spurred on by the popularity of this season's Penguins-Sabres match, the NHL has been working with Yankees officials to try to set something up for the Stadium.

Source - NY Daily News

"It's something we've spoken both to the Yankees and to the city about," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The News. "But it's not a done deal. There are still other possibilities and a lot of moving pieces."

Most insiders feel that the game should be played against a fellow "Original Six" team - Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadians, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings - to maximize the television ratings.

Lets Go Rangers!!!

Yankee Stadium is getting closer to having the New York Rangers and the NHL close out the grand old place with an outdoor hockey contest. Spurred on by the popularity of this season's Penguins-Sabres match, the NHL has been working with Yankees officials to try to set something up for the Stadium.

Source - NY Daily News

"It's something we've spoken both to the Yankees and to the city about," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The News. "But it's not a done deal. There are still other possibilities and a lot of moving pieces."

Most insiders feel that the game should be played against a fellow "Original Six" team - Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadians, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings - to maximize the television ratings.

Damn You Jim Dolan

No baseball, I figured I'd catch the Rangers at Islanders tonight. Try to distract myself in some good ol' old time hockey. But no. The game is on Versus. Versus which is not on your basic cable. Damn you Gary Bettman too.

Damn You Jim Dolan

No baseball, I figured I'd catch the Rangers at Islanders tonight. Try to distract myself in some good ol' old time hockey. But no. The game is on Versus. Versus which is not on your basic cable. Damn you Gary Bettman too.