RANGERS RUMORS & GOSSIP
Despite playoff struggles, Brad Richards won’t be bought out until next summer
New York’s fourth line center would cost an extra $6 million to buy out this summer
It’s growing increasingly difficult to believe that this is just an off year for Brad Richards, that the 33-year-old will bounce back with the benefit of a summer to clear his head and a full John Tortorella training camp in the fall. There are just too many signs that the former star center...
Henrik Lundqvist Admits to Having Sore Left Shoulder, Says ‘Everybody Is Sore’ in Playoffs
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had just given up five goals to the Bruins in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series, as he quietly removed his goalie equipment in the New York dressing room.
The goalie gingerly slid his Rangers jacket on, with a painful grimace on his face as he did so before answering questions from the media. As he answered the questions, he grabbed...
Lineup changes: Girardi and McDonagh back together
Per Andrew Gross, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh are back together as a pairing on defense. After an abysmal Game Two with Michael Del Zotto, Girardi will be reunited with McDonagh to form that top shutdown pair the Rangers split up after the Washington series. Del Zotto will be with Anton Stralman, and the John Moore-Steve Eminger pair remains the same.
The change is likely two-fold...
Rangers Really Missing Staal & Clowe
When you're up against a team as physical and as deep as the Bruins, you'd like to have all hands on deck.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, two guys they couldn't afford to not have in the line-up for this series are sidelined indefinitely.
The absence of Marc Staal and Ryane Clowe in this series has been obvious.
Their big bodies and toughness is sorely needed...
Until Marc Staal comes back, the defense will struggle against deep teams
Al Bello/NYDN
Something that was very obvious during yesterday’s loss was that the Rangers defense had a lot of trouble matching up and shutting down the Bruins forwards. Prior to the series, coach John Tortorella swapped his defense pairings to prepare for a much deeper Bruins club. In doing so, he split up Dan Girardi/Ryan McDonagh, and put Girardi with Michael Del Zotto...
Not The Time For A Slumping ‘King’
from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
It is difficult enough for the Rangers to win even when Henrik Lundqvist is at the top of his game. It is all but impossible for the Blueshirts to even come close when The King plays as if he’s a plebeian.
Which goes a long way in explaining yesterday, when it appeared as if the Bruins were shooting pucks made out of Kryptonite rather...
John Tortorella speaks after the Rangers Game 2 loss to the Bruins
Video courtesy of our friends at Bruins Daily, stop by and visit their blog, you won't be disappointed. This is one of the longer press conferences you will probably see from New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella. This post game presser lasted a grand total of 02:14, that's pretty impressive if you ask me.
Bruins Light Up Henrik Lundqvist in Game 2, Leave Goalie Searching for Reasons for Struggles
BOSTON — New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist goes by the nickname “King Henrik,” and he even has a neat hat with a crown and his No. 30 on it that he often wears.
Lundqvist was wearing that ballcap as he turned to face the media following his showing in the Rangers’ 5-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series. Of course, after allowing a season...
John Tortorella explicitly describes Ryan Callahan's goal
During Game 2 of the Rangers-Bruins Eastern Conference Semifinals series on Sunday, NBC's Pierre McGuire asked Rangers coach John Tortorella how to describe Ryan Callahan, who scored a goal in the first period to tie the game at one goal apiece. Tortorella's response was brief, and extremely descriptive.
"Well right now, that's a HUGE goddamn goal he scored in...
Rangers Coach John Tortorella freaks out on referee Dan O’Halloran
New York Rangers coach John Tortorella lost his temper on referee Dan O’Halloran after the second period ended when a punch to captain Ryan Callahan’s head was not called. You can’t read Tortorella’s lips too well, but you can tell that it is an f-bomb laced tirade and he is clearly not asking O’Halloran to grab a beer with him after the game.
[YouTube]
Rangers Drawing Attention to Themselves With Mighty Struggles on Power Play Against Bruins (Video)
If the last two years were any indication, you would think the Bruins are the ones struggling on the power play in the playoffs. Instead, it’s the Rangers who are feeling the heat on the man advantage.
Maybe it’s that the Bruins have a very good penalty-kill unit. Maybe it’s that Rick Nash hasn’t gotten going yet. Maybe it’s just that sometimes, power-play struggles in...
No Staal; Moore Loses Teeth; Off Ice Adjustments Needed; Redden Game Time Decision
Same lines same d-pairs for Rangers. No Marc Staal on ice. Matt Gilroy is the seventh d-man on ice.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) May 18, 2013
...and Staal not practicing with the team is exactly why I didn't get excited about him skating yesterday. I've all but stopped expecting him back in the playoffs.
...no news on Clowe isn't very encouraging either...
Brad Richards, The High Priced 4th-Liner
from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
So when Tortorella begins an answer to a question about Richards’ status as the club’s fourth-line center with the words, “Sometimes it’s not about Brad,” as he did yesterday on the first of two days between Game 1 of the conference semis and Game 2 against the Bruins here tomorrow, it’s kind of a whoa moment.
As much of...
Staal Skates; Bruins Getting Healthy
During today's very optional practice for the Rangers, Pat Leonard at the Daily News reports that Marc Staal was one of the few Rangers players skating.
...i refuse to get overly-excited about this. Just because he's skating doesn't mean he feels comfortable in game action. Especially against a physical team like the Bruins.
...while I feel the Rangers have been...
Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella yearbook photo emerges
With the New York Rangers-Boston Bruins second round playoff series getting ready to start Thursday night, Rangers head coach John Tortorella’s yearbook photo emerged on the Internet. The photo itself isn’t a big deal but a lot of the information above the photo raises a lot of questions. When did someone add the “s” to his nickname to make it “Torts?” What does...
THE RANGERS HOT 25
