Game 7 Loss

The Rangers season is over after a 2-1 loss to the Caps in game 7 last night. Despite managing only 14 shots through the first two periods, the Rangers played arguably their best two periods of the series. Washington was tentative and the Rangers were loose, poised, went after the puck and got it every time.

The final period was a different story all together. A pathetic one shot on goal. After Sergei Federov's backbreaker with a few minutes to go, they could not muster anything. It was so bad they did not even get a chance to pull the goalie and were pinned in their own zone most of the final minutes. You almost hoped the two great saves Lundqvist made after the goal in the closing seconds would turn into a rush the other way and a miracle goal. No chance.

Had the pleasure of watching the game with many Ranger fans at the Ziegfeld Theater. They handed out thundersticks just like in game 3 and I politely refused. Just like game 3, the thundersticks were popping in the last few minutes and even a blue bulb was tossed at the movie screen. The atmosphere was great and the fans were into it, with "Let's go Rangers" and "Hen-rik" chants right throughout. Boos for any image of Ovechkin or Brashear (who served the first of his six game suspension). Outrage at every non-call against Sean Avery. It was fun to watch a game surrounded by so many fans, making it feel like a home game.

Instead of on to Boston, Gary Bettman gets his wish and has his Pittsburgh-Washington series, thanks to a Devil loss as well, another shocker of a game. Folks, we could be Devil fans, that loss was as crushing as it gets.

Arriving home, I caught the 9th inning of the Mets eventually losing the second game of their series with the Marlins. As Derrick Coleman once said, "Whoopdie-damn-doo."

Bloody Sunday

A lot similarities between this game 6 and Friday night's game 5. The only difference was the Rangers actually tied the game in the first period. Same sad story, however. Donald Brashear recklessly elbows Blair Betts in the head, knocks him out and gets only two minutes because he was roughing with Paul Mara. The Rangers absolutely roll over the rest of the game. Only Callahan and Dubinsky put out some effort.

When the game is pretty much out of reach, you want to at least send a message the next game. There was none of that. Lob a soft shot on Varlamov and no one follows up with a few hacks at the smothered puck. No one challenged Brashear like Shanny did a couple of years ago. Did the Rangers not watch or see highlights of yesterday's Pitt-Philly game? Down 3-0, Maxime Talbot gets into a fight, gets his ass kicked, but sparks his team to a comeback and eventual win. No one on the Rangers had any guts today. Scratching Colton Orr today backfired. Scratching Sean Avery on Friday backfired today, as he did not look like himself at all.

With an average Henrik Lundqvist, this series is now 6 games to 0 for Washington. Oh wait, they only need four to win. The Rangers have three wins in this series??



Being at the Garden this afternoon I had the pleasure of missing the Met game, the other half of the Washington massacre. I see David Wright struck out three times and was booed. As for Oliver Perez, the score says it all.

Let's see, Nelson Figueroa throws a quality start last week and gets DFA'd. His replacement, Casey Fossum, gets DFA'd after his second appearance today, throwing some gasoline on the fire in the 5th inning. Who's next?

Washington vs New York

Flashback to 1992. The Rangers were up 2 games to 1 in the second round of the playoffs vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. Up by a score of 3-1 in the second period, Mike Richter lets in an awful goal by Ron Francis from beyond the blue line. We know what happened after that. The goal that gave the Caps a 2-0 lead in game 5 last night gave me the same feeling. It can only go downhill from here.

The game itself was a disgrace. Without Sean Avery in the lineup (a move I actually did not have a problem with), the Rangers rolled over, gave up, and showed no grit and toughness whatsoever. The play that was a microcosm of the whole game was when Erskine was pushing around Callahan and laughing at him, while Cally gave a few token gloves-in-the-face, nothing more. At that spot you just drop them and go. I don't know what he was afraid of- you're not getting suspended for fighting in that situation. At least Torts showed some fire.

Cally is obviously not the problem however. Paging Gomez, Drury, Antropov, and Zherdev! Simeon Varlamov has made the saves he had to make, but he has not faced any sustained pressure at any point since starting game 2. Three goals in the last four games! Lundqvist has won three games for the Rangers, games that easily could have gone the other way. The Caps, on the other hand, have destroyed the Rangers in their two victories. I don't think there ever was this much a pessimistic feeling for a team that had a 3 games to 2 series lead going home for a game 6.

Henrik, please steal us one more tomorrow. I have more confidence against Boston than against the beast that is Alexander Ovechkin.



The other team in D.C. however, is a disgrace. Who the hell is in charge of the Washington Nationals? Let's put together an ensemble of hotheads Scott Olsen, Elijah Dukes and Julian Tavarez. Ryan Zimmerman must love his new ballpark or something, signing a five-year extension. I guess you gotta give the guy credit for being loyal. I'd be looking for free agency as soon as possible.

Johan Santana is locked in and is worth every penny. Four game losing streak? Let me start out by striking out the first six batters I face, to give the team a little boost.

I like Bobby Parnell. Throws hard and throws strikes. Parnell, Putz, and K-Rod, nothing but strikeouts. Total 180 from last year's bullpen, post-Wagner.



Nats, thanks for handing us game 2 of the series this afternoon. Eight runs given up, five of them unearned. Good bounce back game for Mike Pelfrey. He was not spectacular, but all the ground balls he gave up were a good sign. Even most of the base hits he gave up were singles that found holes. No problem with that. He'll just induce a double play.

Washington's baseball team needs a general manager fast, someone who will break up this bunch. Jim Bowden should have been fired a while ago, never mind this scandal that forced his resignation. Just how many starting outfielders are on this team? Did I mention Julian Tavarez already? The guy who admits he signed with them only because no one else wanted him?

The Mets are 0-5 in the last game of a series. The Rangers are home with a chance to advance in the playoffs. Let's lay Washington to rest tomorrow afternoon.

ECQ GM3: Capitals 4, Rangers 0

Talk about being outplayed right from the beginning. The Rangers did not even get a sniff. Well, ok, they got a post that should have tied the game, but a mere few seconds later the Caps turned that into a 2-0 lead. The crowd is out of it and that's your game.

Of course the refs are going to have it in for Sean Avery. He does not help matters by diving all over the place. Are there legit penalties not called against Avery? Yes. But explain to me how this guy is such a good skater, but you constantly see his butt all over the ice. Again, some of it are from legit crosschecks. Most of the time, however, especially in front of the net, watch for that really thin string that goes around the blue paint in front of that opposing goalie. Avery trips on that all the time.

I know the Caps love to stick it to the fans in any way they can, but for Ovechkin and Backstrom to come out for the mock salute at center ice post game, well, that was amateur hour right there.

Nice job by MSG with the thundersticks. Include a small light bulb inside them, perfect for the fans to throw on the ice if the game was ugly, which it was. Classless act by the fans to do that, but it was a dumb decision by the promotions department from the beginning.

Apparently MSG security is giving crap to fans for throwing balloons during the national anthem, a practice that has been done before every playoff game since the lockout. Who the hell is running this Mickey Mouse organization? Oh yeah, Jim Dolan. Ranger fans should celebrate the day this team gets sold. Unfortunately it does not look like it's happening anytime soon.