NHL Draft Lottery Results. Full of sadness as usual.

Well history was just made.  Well not really, but that’s not the point.  Your New York Rangers did……………………………………………………NOT win the 2010 NHL Draft Lottery.  Sitting in the 10th position the New York Mediocres Rangers had a 2.1% chance of winning the Lottery.  While these odds are much better than winning the ACTUAL (who am I kidding this is the only legitimate, awesome lottery there is) lottery, the Rangers failed to overcome these seemingly insurmountable odds to move up to 6th place.  Yes, you heard right.  The Rangers could only get the 6th overall pick in the 2010 draft if they had won the Lottery.  Lottery rules dictate that a team may only move up 4 spots, and only down one position.  That gave the Edmonton Oilers a 100% chance of getting the 1st or 2nd overall pick in this draft (luck SOBs, but then again Edmonton is a wasteland so we withdraw our jealousy for now).

So that brings us to who actually won the right to Taylor Hall/Tyler Seguin.  Well no surprise here the Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery, thus giving them the first overall pick in the draft.  Having a 25% chance to win really benefited the Oilers, but the fact the Boston Bruins (not the Toronto Suck Leafs) had a 18.8% chance of winning scared us a tiny bit.  Having a playoff team getting a top 5 pick scares us here at Tank For Taylor, as it should scare every other non-playoff team.  This is like when Montreal drafted Guy Lafleur after winning the Stanley Cup the year before!  Now I don’t think the Bruins will win the cup (or should be in the playoffs, but that’s a different post), but this still is frightening.  The Bruins can add a gamechanger to help their anemic offense without hitting free agency!  I digress though.  What this means is the Rangers have 3 options to do with the 10th overall pick in the draft.  We can either 1. keep the pick and take what’s available 2. trade up 3. trade down.

Option 1: Keep our pick.  The Rangers have the 10th pick in the draft.  That means we are getting a top 10 prospect.  Most of these guys should crack AHL or even NHL rosters next year.  Worst come to worst they will be in Juniors for one more year THEN in the NHL.   There are plenty of offensive minded prospects out there, which will address the Rangers glaring need GOALS.  This is a deep draft for the lottery teams, so why not take advantage of it?

Option 2: Trade the pick and move up.  The Rangers have players, prospects, and picks. All organizations do.  What can the Rangers do with those to improve their situation?  Well they can send a package to another team to move up positions in the draft.  Maybe Glen “I made Scott Gomez disappear and helped us get this draft pick” Sather can do something competent and send Michal Rozsival or Wade Redden with one of these picks?  Aw who am I kidding, they’ll be on the opening day roster, but that’s not the point.  The Rangers don’t have the 20th pick, they have an attractive 10th pick.  They have leverage, for once, so why shouldn’t they use it?  Obviously we need to give something up to get something, but maybe a Tyler Seguin, or the man himself Taylor Hall will turn out to be better than Brandon Dubinsky or Ryan Callahan.  Maybe a team likes Evgeny Grachev?  If there is a team willing to trade down with an offer that doesn’t cripple us then we should trade up IMMEDIATELY.  This is the option Tank For Taylor endorses wholeheartedly.

Option 3: Trade down.  Unless we are getting a top 6 guy, we shouldn’t trade down.  We are at a good position, and trading down won’t help get us the top prospect we need.  The Rangers should avoid doing this unless we are getting a NHL player (not prospect) in return that is not a 3rd line/grinder type guy.  We have about 9 of those already, and we don’t need more.  Ever.  We need scoring, not Jody Shelley (sorry bro, you were great for like 2 games, but we need someone that can actually score for 82 games not 2) or Brandon Prust (don’t get me wrong we should resign both these guys to play on the 4th line, but honestly we need more legitimate scoring).

Some call us not winning the draft lottery a failure.  I would be one of those.  I thought I had a backdoor deal with the Bettmonster to rig the draft so we’d get the 6th pick, but in a twist of events get the 1st pick because the NHL changed the lottery policy HOURS before the lottery occured!  Man wouldn’t that be something?  Well it seems Mr. Bettman didn’t keep his word (just like he said during the lockout to me that we wouldn’t have a shootout…) which means business is usual for the NHL.  Don’t be surprised when the league approves a trade from the Penguins to the Oilers that includes a first in 2011 and the rights to negotiate to Sergei Gonchar.

That’s us for now.  Time to start digging through CHL boxscores, try and find streams for the remaining games, and discuss the possibility of a mock draft!  That should be exciting!!!!

Playoff Predictions

Had to be done.  We’ll do a write up on the Draft Lottery results tonight!  Get pumped!  Ok here are my first round predictions:

Washington over Montreal in 6

New Jersey sweeps Philly (that was dirty to write)

Buffalo takes on Boston in 5

Ottawa defeats Sidney Crosby in 7

Colorado over SJ in 6

Chicago over Nashville in 6

Los Angeles goes the distance over Vancouver

Phoenix OVER Detroit in 6.

Enjoy the playoffs, we’ll take the WHL, OHL, QMJHL semi finals and finals instead.  GET PUMPED FOR THE MEMORIAL CUP!

2 apologies.

Sorry.  I’ve been busy.  I have homework.  But I’m back.  And I need to apologize to everyone.  I’ve jumped on the playoff bandwagon.  I know, I know I wanted us to miss it.  Real bad.  It would have been for the best.  But that’s not the point anymore.  We lost our chance at the best prospects, so let’s take a bad situation and make it good by doing 2 things tonight:

1. Root for the Maple Leafs.  Why?  It will give the Rangers a better chance of getting the 7th seed and not facing the Capitals.

2. Root for the Rangers to beat the Flyers.  Philly doesn’t deserve to win ever, and if we win we are in.

As for the second apology, I received this nice little letter from the New York Rangers today;

Dear TankForTaylor,

Ha ha ha.  Ha ha.  Ha ha.  I am writing this apology letter to say sorry for your failed mission to convince us that losing was a good option.  I have successfully built a team engineered to give the fans hope, crush it, give them hope again, then finally crush it with meaningless playoff games!  Thus, I have achieved some success and will continue to be overlord of this organization for a long time.  My job is safe, while your blog sucks.  Have fun, loser!

The one, the only,

Glen Sather

Glad to know the Rangers are in good hands for what seems like all time.

Well, whatever just beat the Flyers.  The future is something we’ll tackle another time!

We’ve tanked the tank for now, and we’ve jumped on the Rangers playoff bus.  ALL ABOARD!

Game Recap.

This is going to be short.  I really don’t have much to day today.  It’s really weird when you can’t behind a 5-0 statement game by your team.  The Rangers went up early and never looked back.  It was 4-0 by the end of the first period, and by that point no one really cared.  The game was over.  Even Aaron friggin’ Voros scored.

Why can’t I get excited about this game is the part we should be worried about right?  If the Rangers beat Florida tomorrow, and with my luck they will, the Rangers could have a very good shot at making the playoffs.  But TankForTaylor why is this bad, we are going to the playoffs?  Playoffs are good right?  You have to be in it to win it!  No.  Not in this case.  The Playoffs are bad.

Why?  You can’t win the Stanley Cup without being in the playoffs right?  Great.  BFD.  The Rangers aren’t going to win the Stanley Cup this year.  This team is utterly mediocre, and frankly this playoff push is sugar coating it.  This team has gotten me though some bad times.  I always had someone to cheer for.  I’ve defended Chris Drury more times than I can count.  I love the Rangers, I really do.  Someone just needs to come out and say this team doesn’t deserve a playoff spot because they don’t.  Making the playoffs would be a travesty for the “New NHL”.  This is why you are failing as Commissioner Gary Bettman.  Not because of the “Wheel of Justice” you let Colin Campbell create.  Not because we all know you have a secret crush on Sidney Crosby and frantically market him to cover it up.  Not because you deprived us of a hockey season (we will never forget that) and almost lost the NHL.  Not because the shootout is the biggest travesty in the game.  Because you’ve created a watered-down, boring NHL that lets teams like the 2009-10 New York Rangers possibly make the playoffs.  I’m all for contraction, but that’s for another time and another place.  This league is a joke where no one wants to win the 6th-8th seeds in the Eastern Conference.  Give Washington a bye in the first round then make the 2nd-5th teams play to get in a 3 team round robin to decide the Eastern Conference because anyone below Ottawa doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs (man who thought someone would utter those words this year).

The Rangers had the opportunity to stay within 4 points of 14th place in the Eastern Conference.  I’ve said many times why getting a high draft pick will bring much needed personnel changes in the organization and give us a top rated prospect (As the self-anointed President of the Taylor Hall fan-club I can say at this point it doesn’t matter who the Rangers get, we just need a young player that is NHL ready and can make in impact while our other prospects start to come up) and hope for the future.  This team isn’t winning any hardware in the near future.  They are mediocre and are probably going to stay that way for a bit.  We have too many long-term contracts strapping this team down to make the necessary moves to fix our team.  We rely on waiver pickups to be our top line centers because said contracts are not living up to their hype.  Glen Sather finally has been royal screwed by the salary cap and cannot make his mistakes disappear.  Why not start planning for the future when we can actually compete?

I’ve lost faith in this team.  It took a while, but once again I feel like its 2003.  Frankly this team has been mediocre since 1997 and the way they keep flip-flopping when it matters it seems they’ll stay mediocre for a bit longer.  The Rangers aren’t good enough to tank, yet they aren’t good enough to get a playoff spot.  They suck, but they just can’t suck enough.  No matter what they do they just end in heartbreak.  This isn’t the ’91 North Stars, there will never be a Cinderella run with this team.  History will not be made.  Infuriating decisions, poor finishes, and another mediocre season is what’s being made.

This will probably be my only rant on this blog, as this is not it’s purpose.  I just needed to get my frustrations out.  Someone needed to just say without the sugar-coating how bad this team is and how much heartbreak there is going to be.  Thank god there’s another game in the Windsor-Plymouth series coming soon so I have something to look forward too.

CLASH OF THE TITANS RECAP 1

Sorry about getting so long to get this post up (there will be another today before the Ranger game I can promise you guys that), but I had to  rebuild my dorm room after the clash of the titans that occurred last night.  Now I’m not saying this is going to be the only exciting matchup during the OHL (far from it I suggest paying the $125 dollars I cannot afford to watch the playoffs) playoffs, but the matchup between the Windsor Spitfires and the Plymouth Whalers is going to be awesome.  Its USA vs. Canada.   1 seed vs. 4 seed.  Most importantly, HALL vs. SEGUIN.

Game one was  last night, and it was a beatdown.  Windsor went up 3-0 by midway in the second period, then Plymouth scored late in the second.  Now going into the third period down 3-1 is never fun, but it isn’t insurmountable.  Good goaltending and solid fundamentals can propel a team to an easy comeback with 20 minutes to play.  Too bad they had to get through one man, yet couldn’t.  That man was Taylor Hall.

Then 1:28 into the Third Period Taylor Hall ended any Windsor comeback.  Up 4-1 Hall decided one goal wasn’t enough fun so he decided to play with Plymouth and score with 27 seconds left in the game.  It wasn’t an empty net goal.  Taylor Hall doesn’t need any help scoring he’s that good.

The Hall vs. Seguin matchup in the game was pretty interesting.  Windsor effectively shut down Plymouth and left Tyler Seguin with no points and a -3 for the night.  Oof.  Meanwhile Taylor Hall had 2 goals 0 assists and was a +2.  Take that Team Tyler (yeah I just went there).

***Disclaimer I did not watch the game, I saw some highlights and got all my info from the box score.***

Playoffs!

Sorry I’ve been away so long, I came down with a disease Phil Kessel once had (not cancer don’t worry) and had to catch up on my school work, so unfortunately Tank For Taylor was put on the back burner.  I feel so horrible about it, but the sickness did give me a revelation.  This blog is meaningless!  The playoffs are possible again, so screw the future, screw prospects LET’S GET TO THE PLAYOFFS!

That wasn’t sarcasm.  I love Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Cam Flower, Brent Connolly, Nino Neiderreiter, and the rest of the bunch, but honestly its not worth it to stay where we are or fall further.  I mean we are 6 points out of 14th in the Eastern Conference, its not worth it to try in the last 6 games to make that up.  Rather we should try to make up the 4 points (ONLY TWO POINTS LESS SO IT MUST BE EASIER) on Montreal, Boston, and Philly.  I mean c’mon who’s ahead of us besides them? Atlanta?  Pfft.  I live in Atlanta (currently) and they are NO threat.  I say the Rangers should win the last 6 games (I mean they have a choice they could lose them all) and try and go for broke and get hot right now.

Let’s look at the Red Wings.  They are a hot team (take that about the games not the players) and are favorites to make an impact in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Why can’t the Rangers do that?  I mean we can completely overcome our inept offense, porous defense, and clear lack of commitment in 6 games and take the NHL by storm.  When I come back from school I want to spend ALL my money on Stanley Cup Finals shrits, patches (FOR ALL MY JERSEYS RANGERS OR NOT), and tickets to EVERY game, and a trip to the Canyon of Heroes to see my boys with the Cup.  Because if we may the playoffs WE CAN WIN THE CUP.  I mean you have to be in it to win it!

So basically what I am saying is today, April 1, the Rangers begin the march to the Stanley Cup.

BUT WAIT!  Happy April Fools day loyal readers

I don’t believe we should push for the playoffs, if we make it great I’ll support my team to death, but seriously we are only 6 points from the number 3 overall pick.  With 6 games left, Carolina and Tampa surging, and playoff teams choking its going to be a hell of a ride until those ping pong balls determines Taylor Hall’s fate.  I’m excited for the nose dive the Rangers need to take.  Screw the Playoffs, changes are needed.  Big changes.  BIG BIG CHANGES.  Ok you all get the idea, but seriously making the playoff will derail the making of these changes with a “successful” season.  Making the playoffs this season isn’t a success, its a failure.  A failure for the future, a failure for the Eastern Conference, and a failure for the league.  The latter two are for another post, but a playoff berth denies us a more likely chance to get a game-changer, and it just brings more heartbreak.   We don’t need more heartbreak its too much.  I honestly will go insane trying to deal with playoff heartbreak.  Can’t do it.  Done with this topic.

Final though.  WATCH THE OHL PLAYOFFS.  Hall vs. Seguin.  Memorial Cup Favorites vs. Scrappy Underdogs!  Windsor vs. Plymouth.  Guh I’m just excited writing that.  JUST WATCH OK!

Viva la tank!

Jinx.

That’s what I am.  I’m convinced.  I’m done talking about how good other teams are doing in relation to the Rangers.  It must have been karma, but wait….

Today’s game sucked was TOTALLY AWESOME.

I’m sorry I know this goes against the entire purpose of the blog, but seriously this game was good.  There has been too much mediocrity, failure, and just overall not-awesomeness.  The Rangers needed this game.  They needed some confidence so they don’t go insane.  We aren’t making the playoffs, but one victory was a small (very small) moral victory.

We totally endorse when Gaborik scores, so besides that we got 2 points boo.

A day that will live in History

Has a day ever just gone your way?  Well yesterday was that kind of day for Tank for Taylor.  I’m literally just going to dive right into this one, because it doesn’t need a fluffy introduction.  Here were the standings before yesterday.

8. Boston Bruins 76 points

9. Atlanta Thrashers 75 points

10. New York Rangers 71 points

11. Florida 69 points

12. Tampa Bay 68 points

13. Carolina 68 points

14. New York Islanders 68 points

15. Toronto Maple Leafs 64 points

Now there were some key games last night.  Boston vs. Atlanta, Tampa Bay vs. Carolina, and Florida vs. Toronto were those games.  Now basically here’s a quick recap of each game:

Boston vs. Atlanta: Atlanta lost.  4-0.  Boston is now 7 points ahead of the Rangers for the 8th seed.  Woo finally not having to deal with playoff pressure!!!

Tampa Bay vs. Carolina: Each team needed to get a point.  I followed the first two periods, after which Carolina led 2-1.  Thank goodness for a 3rd period Tampa goal as each team benefited from the loser points!  Tampa won 3-2 in OT so each team got at least 1 point.

Florida vs. Toronto: Florida took advantage of a horrible Maple Leafs team and got 2 points.  WOO!

So here are the new standings:

8. Boston Bruins 78 points

9. Atlanta Thrashers 75 points

10. New York Rangers 71 points

11. Florida Panthers 71 points

12. Tampa Bay Lightning 70 points

13. Carolina Hurricanes 69 points

14. New York Islanders 68 points

15. Toronto Maple Leafs 64 points

With 10 games left in the season the Rangers are 3 points out of 14th in the conference.  2 of our 10 games just happen to be against said 14th place team the New York Tavares Islanders.  So Ranger fans, get excited for another uninspired performance against the Islanders tonight, and maybe one step closer to that elusive 14th place.  The right teams are getting hot at the right time, and the Rangers are not one of those teams.  Maybe this kick in the ass of not making the playoffs will bring needed changes in the organization, but it will certainly bring a very nice prospect.  Can we haz Taylor Hall plz?

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LIVE BLOG!!! Rangers @ Bruins TODAY!!!

Alright boys and Girls the demented minds at Tank For Taylor are doing a LIVE BLOG today!  We will show you first hand how we watch Ranger games these days.  Should be an interesting one because I am very sick, and very out of it.  Should be some interesting notes posted about our boys.  This page will be updated throughout the game, so keep refreshing and enjoy the show!

12:29 PM: This game is on NBC?  Of course even when they have nothing less to lose the Rangers will continue to torture me with the broadcast.

12:30 PM: Yay! at least I get to watch the Winter Classic Jerseys.

12:38 PM: Lundqvist looks shaky, or the defense just looks bad.  I can never tell with this team.

12:44 PM: Rangers get a Power Play.  Someone gouge my eyes out.  It will be less painful.

12:46 PM: Don’t know what I’m more suprised about.  Vaclav Prospal with a dirty hit, or Chris Drury on the Power Play…

1:00 PM: Syracuse up 15 at halftime!  WOOO! Oh this is a hockey live blog…

1:01 PM: Remember when Ranger fans liked Ollie Jokinen?  HAHAHA! We like when he takes penalties so he’s OFF the ice!

1:05 PM: I think I figured out the Bruins’ strategy.  Play the whole game Shorthanded because the Rangers PP is so inept.

1:13 PM: Seriously did anyone really, honestly like Olli Jokinen?

END OF THE FIRST PERIOD: Thank god.  Only 2 more periods to go.  Why do I even watch this team?  I’ve lost confidence in them, and when a man loses confidence in his team what does he have?

1:45 PM: This game is so interested I just took a nap.  Yeah, it was worth it I didn’t miss anything with these two teams.

1:47 PM: Go figure Dan Girardi plays well in the only game that semi kind of matters for this team.  Where has this Girardi been all freakin’ season?

1:48 PM: Gaborik seems to be the guy that only does good things for this team.  Props to Chara for making him bleed and preventing the Rangers from scoring for four minutes.

1:52 PM: The announcers just asked if there’s second effort from the Rangers.  I just laughed at the notion there EVER was effort from this team. Period.

1:54 PM: Bruins kill the double minor.  This is one of the few times I hate when I’m right.

1:57 PM: Its getting to that point in the game where I’m starting to just feel bad for the Rangers.  I feel like Chris Drury is going to be found crying in the lockerroom, and John Tortorella is going to go on a murderous rampage.  I really love the Rangers, I do.  They just drove me to the point where I actually realized the best thing for this organization is to lose not win.  It hurts to write this blog sometimes, even though its a humorous escape from the frustrations.  Sometimes we all need to just get serious for a change, and then the Rangers go on a pitiful rush and I’m reminded why I get up in the morning to write this blog.  God this team is pitiful.

2:00 PM: The 2009-10 New York Rangers: It hit the post.  Then we give up a penalty shot.  I really regret getting serious.  At least Henrik Lundqvist is awesome.

2:01 PM: I feel bad for Henrik Lundqvist.  Here’s a guy that’s just really that good, but will never win a Vezina, nor a Cup it seems because he’s stuck on the Rangers for now.  He stopped the Penalty Shot by the way.  I didn’t even flinch.

2:04 PM: Bruins score.  I should be happy because we are losing, but I just feel bad for Henrik .  He actually deserved to win this game.

2:06 PM: I realized I made a cardinal sin today.  I invested faith in one player on the Rangers.  They will only disappoint.  Well this is basically the game, which is depressing.

2:08 PM: What’s more surprising? The Rangers are losing, or that Miroslav Satan actually did have a 40 goal season in the NHL?

2:09 PM: “This could be the first body check Miro Satan’s ever thrown.”  Ok NBC you redeemed yourself for a second.

END OF THE SECOND PERIOD: All I can say is I once called Olli Jokinen hockey AIDS.  I was right.  Well we are down 1-0, which means there is no hope for this game!  Enjoy the 3rd period!

2:25 PM: NBC goes back to being inept.  They talk about key stats for the period, and they mention everything BUT the fact the Bruins scored and the Rangers didn’t.

2:31 PM: Tukka, I was once traded for Andrew Raycroft, Rask almost makes a crucial mistake to give the Rangers a goal.  But remember kids its the Rangers so they can’t score.

2:35 PM: It seems the only way we are going to score is if Rask gives up a 105 foot goal, becuase the Rangers sure ain’t getting any pressure on him.

2:40 PM: It seems the Bruins’ fans are actually caring about this game.  Rangers fans would probably just yell “Potvin Sucks” at this moment.

2:46 PM: Weidman with a nice shot.  Wow.  2-0 Bruins.  Can’t say I’m surprised.

2:48 PM: Let it be known the New York Rangers season ended on March, 21 2010 at 2:46 PM.  Now everyone can be on board with the Tank!

2:51 PM: Nice job by Hank to stop a 3 on 1.  Not that it mattered…  Oh, I just wanted to let people know I was against the Jokinen trade from the beginning.  It needed to be said.

2:58 PM: Knew this would happen.  MDZ scores for the Rangers, and NOW the effort is going to come.

3:01 PM: Net is empty

3:03 PM: Rangers actually had some good chances in front of the net.  Too bad we lost.  5 points out of a playoff spot.  We are done!  WOOO! TIME TO TANK! GET THAT LOTTERY PICK!

3:05 PM: Time for some final thoughts.  The Rangers looked pitiful out there.  Despite a few moments of looking semi-competent the Rangers did what they have been doing since December: just floating out there.  We thought an amazing start to the season would carry us into the playoff easily, but we were wrong.  This team played with no heart, no effort, and frankly deserved to lose.  That’s a great thing.  Now we are 5 points out of a playoff spot.  Hopefully the guys at MSG will get it through their heads that season is over.  DONE.  Now we can focus on losing games and plummeting in the standings.  We are 3 points out of a Lottery Pick.  Its not that unreasonable to believe in getting one at this point.  Just a few games need to go other teams ways (which can happen!) and we are getting Taylor Hall this offseason.  I think this game should show “true fans” that this team doesn’t deserve your hope.  It deserves your support in the quest to make itself better starting with the 2010 draft.  I hope everyone enjoyed the live blog, because I really did!  Let’s get Taylor Hall boys!

Postgame STL Blues @ NY Rangers. Aka the game that wrote itself.

I honestly don’t think I should be writing this post game.  The evidence of why this team shouldn’t push for the playoffs is all there, so I think all of you need to rewatch the game.  That is not the point of this blog though, so let’s get to the Rangers hilarity!

So boy and girls its a real showdown between the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers.  Last year each of these teams were playoff teams and both lost in the first round!  This year, the Rangers have been an utter disappointment, and the Blues have a good road record.  That should come in handy for the whole needed to not get points to catch teams that are in lottery positions.  I have to say this game was a doozy.  It had everything this blog loves, and let’s begin!

1. The Blues scored before I could get my feed going.  Yes, I actually watched the game!  Oh its been too long hasn’t it, or should I just keep staying away because I get welcomed to this heartbreak.  Well having the Blues score before I can start watching is like saying: “Oh, honey the game’s on!  Oh wow we are already losing?  Might as well turn it off because this team is so offensively inept they will never be able to overcome a 1 goal deficit.”  Also, it gives the illusion the Rangers are actually trying to do something good for the future and trying to lose these games.

2. Marian Gaborik scored to give the Rangers a lead.  I know these things called “leads” rarely happen, so we can embrace them even though we need to lose.  It was nice to see “Quick Release” pot one, as it seems like he’s playing a half a step behind because of the Olympics.  Watching Gaborik smile after a goal is like watching a newborn puppy  frolic around, or a kid getting an ice cream cone waaaaaay to big for him, but he’s enjoying every lick.  Its just fun to watch.

3. Some dude scored his first goal in a long, long time.  Since the Bush era to be exact (an no its not first Bush).  Mike Weaver of the St. Louis Blues scored his first goal since the 2006,07 season to be exact.  Of course the Rangers’ inept defense is the one that let’s him get one!  Colin Campbell should suspend our defense for that atrocity (he probably will since he doesn’t know how to do his damn job!).  TANGENT ALERT: Colin Campbell once coached the New York Rangers.  He took over after Keenan left.  Before he was fired he did amass an over .500 record.  Why can’t he have the same mediocre success in his front office job?  And why does everything the Rangers do seem to always be mediocre?

4. Wade Redden scored.  The sky is falling.  Help!  I didn’t believe it either, but then again the Rangers always find ways to A. Surprise me B. Screw with my mind C. Give me false hope.

5. Paul, I’m still a half step behind the NHL yet refuse to admit it, Kariya scores the GWG in true Paul Kariya fashion.  Ryan Callahan isn’t that good.  I had to say it.   He was an Olympian to be a penalty killer, and was great at that.  He had a role, that wasn’t try and be a top 6 forward.  This season he really hasn’t shown me anything, and this further proves my point.  He let Paul Kariya just fly, and by fly I mean Callahan NEVER had a shot at catching Mr. Half Step Behind the NHL, by him en route to a great goal.  Kariya almost got another when he attempted an ENG, but he missed and just ended the misery for the Rangers.

6. Henrik Lundqvist looked human.  Now I love Lundqvist, but he needs a legit backup and can’t be playing 75 games a year.  Games like this could have been avoided if Alex Auld steps up (in the future because I mean he’s been here for what 2 weeks?) and shows he can take 30-35 games a year.  Then I wouldn’t worry about Hank going to the Olympics, or even just breaking down like he did for that matter.

Seriously this game wrote itself.  The Rangers were comically bad.  To put it in perspective we had a 5 on 3 towards the end of the game, and we couldn’t convert to tie the game.  The Blues had more chances than the Rangers did that game!  Good work boys Taylor Hall is proud!  You know why?  Because he’s actually in the playoffs, and he actually had 3 points in his first game.  Guys like these that actually know how to competently play hockey are the guys I want on my hockey squad!

Perspective time, then I got to go.  Right now the Rangers are in 10th (woo progress)!  They are tied with Atlanta who is in 9th, but has a game at hand.  The Rangers are 3 points out of a playoff spot, and 5 points out of being 14th in the Conference.  Key games against the Islanders are coming up, so let’s give them some false hope.  They’ve hogged too many number 1 picks in the past!  Also we play the Bruins, Devils, and Maple Leafs in that span.  While we can’t catch Toronto, we can give ‘em a win!  Keep on truckin’ New York Rangers, the road to the lottery is where you belong.  Hopefully, if I’m not too busy today, I can talk about our future and the start of the CHL playoffs, otherwise that may be tomorrow!