Retroblog: Bruins @ Rangers 1972 SCF Game Six

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What I hope will be a regular feature of Waves in the Atlantic is something I call "Retroblogging." This term, to me, refers to blogging about something hockey-related that has happened in the sport's past as if it were happening now and hopefully, in the process, giving some kind of deeper insight into a former player's career, a past game or a moment that had an impact on hockey's development. How good I am at this, well, you'll have to tell me. Most of these retroblogs will relate to one of the Atlantic Division's teams, but not always. I've got to keep you on your toes.

This is something I've first seen done by ESPN's purveyor of pucks, John Buccigross. So without question here's a big tip of the hat from me to him.

Some only semi-related, product placement: If you haven't read John and Keith Jones' book Jonesy do yourself a favor and check that out. I just finished it and it's a great read. Maybe that will make John want to punch me less encroaching upon his territory.



Anyway, back to the Retroblogging, first up is Game Six of the 1972 Stanley Cup Final:

May 11, 1972:

The Rangers, fresh off a come-from-behind victory in Game Five powered by a pair of goals by Bobby Rousseau, need a victory on home ice to stave off elimination. A win for the Bruins would mean a second Stanley Cup in just three seasons and at least a thirty-third year would separate the Broadway Blueshirts from that same silver chalice.

The following video has highlights of the entire series including the aforementioned Game Five and the two tallies by Little Bobby Rousseau. The Game Five highlights start at 5:40 of the video and the two goals are at 8:10 and 9:10, respectively. I apologize in advance for the video maker's awful choice of Gnarles Barkley for background music. I'm not sure why he did this, but uhh, at least we've got the video, right?:



FIRST PERIOD

Without the technological advances we have today--and I say this like a cheesy scoreboard in the upper-left corner of the TV screen is some amazing achievement of more modern times--I'll mainly be in the dark as far as how much time has transpired.

So, without that "scoreboard bug" up there to help out, as I've found out it's called, I'll go with what the announcers give me every now and then, but beyond that you'll just have to make some inferences.

* The Rangers come out pressing on the very first shift of the game as Pete Stemkowski and Gary Doak throw shots on goal that Boston goaltender Gerry Cheevers is able to keep out. Cheevers' mask has to be one of the best of all time. Quality.





















[Photo from Joe Pelletier's Bruins Legends site]


* Some solid forechecking pressure early by both clubs. It hasn't turned into chances yet but it certainly is making the first pass out of the zone difficult for both teams. There hasn't been a lot of tape-to-tape passing thus far.

It could be the forechecking pressure, it could be the size of the rink, the ice could be godawful or maybe I've just grown accustomed to more precise passing, but, in any case, it's a little sloppy out there.

* 3:32 - There still haven't been a lot of chances since the early flurry for the Rangers, but perhaps some are on the way. The Bruins get snagged for a penalty as Johnny Mackenzie collided with Gary Doak at the Ranger blueline.

* After a botched Ranger break-in, the puck is worked behind the net to Bobby Orr. Number four proceeds to spin away from two would-be Ranger attackers and kills 7-8 seconds off the New York man advantage. After this little exhibition of puck-ragging, he works the puck up ice to a teammate and it's cleared.

* Great Odin's Raven! This powerplay has looked pretty punchless. After some more time has been ticked off the clock by solid PK efforts from guys like Derek Sanderson, Bobby Orr flips the puck skyward toward center ice. Ed Westfall catches up to the puck and strides in on Rangers netminder Gilles Villemure. He goes to the backhand but fires the shot wide. That was the first legitimate chance for the Bruins, but they don't get a shot on goal.

Villemure, a season removed from a Vezina Trophy-winning campaign, had a solid year in the net for the Rangers. Splitting time with Eddie Giacomin, Gilles put up a 24-7-4 record and a stingy 2.09 gaa.

* Rangers right winger Bruce MacGregor lets go a shot from the near boards, which although has some good buzz on it, would be considered pretty routine by today's standards.

Boston's goalie Gerry Cheevers gets struck with the shot and immediately drops to the ice in pain. He kept the puck out, but the miniscule amount of padding protecting his body didn't take any of the sting out of that one.

You're immediately reminded how much easier the Stay Puft Marshmallow Men goalies of today's NHL have it when you see a play like this happen.

Trevor Kidd unimpressed.

* Not to be one-upped by Bobby Orr's rushes up ice, Brad Park makes a graceful end-to-end rush only to see his pass kick off the skates of Jean Ratelle just inside the Boston zone and skitter harmlessly behind the cage.

* 11:18 - The Bruins are finally able to put a little offensive pressure on the 'gers in the later stages of the first period. They work the puck around down low with the man advantage and find Orr open at the right point. Bobby puts on a beautiful spin move to elude Bruce MacGregor charging out to challenge him and he zips a wrist shot past Villemure from the top of the circle.

G: Orr A: Hodge, Bucyk

BRUINS 1 - RANGERS 0

* A little bit of trivia--only for those like me who were born too late to see/hear/witness games during this period of time--Glen Sather was just on for the last shift. Unfortunately for him, however, so was Bobby Orr.

"Slats", better known for being the architect of the Oilers dynasty of the 1980's and , of course, attempting to right the Rangers course this decade, was also a hard-working NHL player for ten seasons. He played a substantial chunk of his NHL career with the Rangers but later moved onto play with the Blues, Canadiens and North Stars. He finished his career with the Oilers of the WHA before retiring and taking the coaching reins. I think that went fairly well. Can't be positive though.

* After getting a little bit tangled up coming into the Ranger zone, Ken Hodge, who put up an impressive stat line of 37-44-81 during the regular season, and Vic Hadfield, wearing the captain's "C", decide to drop the mitts. Gloves and curveless wooden sticks are strewn about everywhere as Bruins and Rangers pair off around the two embroiled in the fray. It's a spirited fight as both came out swinging, but the decision certainly has to go to Hodge who kept drilling Hadfield even sneaking a punch or two in as the linesmen tried to step in and break up the bout.

* Jean Ratelle is one finely coiffed individual. Seeing that hair without a helmet on is just awesome.

While on the subject,just taking a glance around, I think that only three of the players in this game are wearing helmets and all of them are Rangers: Stemkowski, Rosseau and MacGregor. Apparently these Bruins are some kind of tough-guys:



* It's a bit of a jarring experience to watch a game in an era without advertisements plastered in every conceivable place. The ice and boards are free from any marking not caused by a stick or puck. The announcer is calling the game and not reminding the viewer that this segment of hockey is brought to them by whoever was willing to shell out the most cash. Breathe in that slight bit of freedom. It's nice.

SECOND PERIOD

* 3:45 - The play and physicality have both certainly ramped up as this game has gone along. This works to the Rangers advantage as they start pounding the Bruins which directly leads to their best chances of the game. Rod Gilbert and Rousseau have a few swipes at pucks in the slot.

* 4:33 - Sanderson and Gilbert go at it in the Ranger corner, though it might be more accurate to say that the latter had the proverbial can of "whoop ass" opened up on him. Can I get bleeped on my own blog?

It seems like that got started up at least in part because of a hit from behind second before. Apparently that was frowned upon even then. Ryan Hollweg is obviously no hockey history buff.

* Watching that fight in the corner, I can't help but notice how low the glass is at MSG. The boards are about the same height, but the glass can't be more than three feet high. No wonder some old rinks were so scary to play in. Now that defines the concept of a "sixth man."

* Maybe Phil Esposito was just huge in comparison to those he played with, but honest to god his body makes him look more like a guy you'd go bowling with than an NHL superstar. Okay maybe I should be slapped in the face for saying that about a Hall-of-Famer. Even if the body on the ice seems to suggest TV repairman, the shot says generational talent.

* A five-on-three powerplay comes and goes for the Rangers, but they can't get the puck into the net. Cheevers came up huge with a point-blank stop on Ratelle.


* Somewhere later in the period Brad Park is the late man in a Ranger rush and he's fed the puck in the slot. He puts a move on, goes backhand and is absolutely robbed by Cheevers with the glove. The Rangers aren't cashing in on their opportunities.

* Yet another dust-up. Wayne Cashman and Walt Tkaczuk tussle this time and it proves nearly impossible to pull these guys apart. I'm watching this and trying to comprehend how it must have been when there was one penalty box in NHL rinks.

* As Bobby Orr was carrying the puck up the ice, he seemed to hit another gear as he crossed the red line. Only a sprawling effort by Brad Park kept Orr from driving the Ranger net.

THIRD PERIOD

* Another Orr rush, this time on the powerplay, ends with a shot on goal and a skate save by Villemure.

* 5:10 - After a faceoff win by Espo, Orr takes the puck at the point, looks off Tkaczuk, steps up and drives a shot into the net from the right point. There has just been too much Bobby Orr in this series for the Rangers. Five dollar bottles of champagne are being put on ice in the Bruins locker room as we speak.

* Park has been one of the Rangers most noticable players but he's been out on the ice an absolute ton. The strain--and perhaps the realization that the season is nearly over--is starting to show as he's coughed up the puck a few times in the last couple of minutes.

* Hadfield slips a defender in the corner and sets up Ratelle for a glorious chance, but the puck slides wide off Ratelle's stick.

* Esposito flips a pass to Cashman in the slot whose shot finds a way to trickle through Villemure's pads. Cashman is mobbed by his teammates, but not before he managed to do some odd little celebratory dance.

G: Cashman A: Esposito A: Hodge

BRUINS 3 - RANGERS 0

* 0:00 - Orr scoops up the puck as a souvenir and hops into the arms of Gerry Cheevers. The Bruins have won the Cup once again. The broadcast closes with Bruins' captain Johnny Bucyk skating the Stanley Cup for a lap around Madison Square Garden.


FINAL SCORE: BRUINS 3 - RANGERS 0

Moments after the victory laps around the rink, the media caught up with the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins:

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Thoughts: Penguins @ Flyers Gm 3

Fully aware of my ineptitude when it comes to hockey, the Flyers decided to do the exact opposite of just about everything I said they needed to do in order to win. It's usually a solid plan to ignore my advice, but this is one of the few times it might have helped out.

• The tireless hunt for diminuitive Flyer forward Daniel Briere has been called off as authorities believe that further searching would be futile. I guess those milk cartons with his picture on them didn't help out as much as I'd hoped.



• Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer acknowledges the harsh reality of the Flyers' situation.
  
  But he gives more criticism to Steve Downie for his pair of turnovers than anything else--because that subpar hockey player is really counted on for a lot. It's a big surprise when someone of his skill level botches a few plays. Uhm.. Nothing more than a slap on the wrist for Biron and little to no mention of the 52 Million Dollar Man. Although those articles will start to pop up on the web I'm sure.
  
  Sheridan closes by lauding his team for how far they've come:
  

  "'Why not us?'
  
  "Well, because it is too big a leap from the bottom of the NHL, where the Flyers were last year, to the Stanley Cup. The leap from the bottom of the league to the final four is remarkable enough.
  
  "For the Flyers and their fans, that will have to be enough. For now."




• I couldn't imagine being satisfied after this team beat the hottest squad in the league from November on in the Captials and dismantled the top team in the East, Montreal, after that. They should've had a better showing than this. Injuries absolutely hurt them, but the effort in some of these games was brutal. Eight shots through two periods in a do-or-die Game Three? On home ice. Yikes.



• Marc-Andre Fleury has certainly played well, but he hasn't even come close to being assailed with enough rubber. Maybe the Red Wings have the answer to the D in front of this guy with all the "Flower Power" they've got in net. [That photoshop by SteelCity 8771 via Pensblog]

PENGUINS, RED WINGS TIRED OF SEEING OPPONENTS' UGLY FACES; BLOW THROUGH FIRST TWO ROUNDS AT AMAZING CLIP

...I can only assume that's what's going on

These past two rounds have been lacking in drama as the Penguins and the Red Wings have cruised past the their seemingly unworthy Semi-Finals and Conference Finals opponents with relative ease.

That they will meet in the Stanley Cup Final is a foregone conclusion and hopefully they will be a better match for one another. It'd be nice to see a little more of the compelling variety of hockey.

With that in mind, however, I think while we await the coup de grace for the Flyers and Stars, I'm going to do some retro-blogging to remind myself what a little more meaningful playoff hockey is like. I'm going to regularly "live blog" some classic games from the NHL's past--something I've first seen done by ESPN's resident hockey guru John Buccigross.

My first attempt at this will be a post about Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final back in 1972 between Bobby Orr's Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers.

It'll give me some deeper perspective on the Game's history and maybe, in the process, help do the same for some other people.

Come back in the next day or two to check out what I've come up with...

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Pre-Game: Penguins @ Flyers Gm 3

The Flyers, though they needed seven games to do so, put a hurting on Washington Capitals. They were tenacious on the forecheck and punished their opponent with heavy bodychecks at every opportunity. On top of that, their powerplay was outstanding.

Daniel Briere was huge in that series and made the Caps pay seemingly every time they went a man down--he went 4-2-6 on the powerplay alone. He put up six goals and five assists in total that round, but has only a measely pair of goals and a single helper since--all three of those points coming in the Semi-Finals against les Habitants.

Despite Briere's cooling off, however, the Flyers were able to rattle the young Carey Price and breeze by the top-seeded Canadiens in five games. Maybe this would've been impossible without an unreal contribution from R.J. Umberger that realistically couldn't be redoubled as he racked up eight goals and an assist for nine points in that quintet of tilts.

I guess the point of this lead-in is that the Flyers are in trouble. Daniel Briere's picture is on milk cartons throughout eastern Pennsylvania but as of the time of this post, he is still missing.

Send out a search party for Mike Knuble too, because, well, he's been a complete non-factor. Where is the Flyers team that so effectively antagonized Cristobol Huet and Price? They were in the faces of both these goalies and got them to wilt under the pressure. Marc-Andre Fleury? The dude is doing sudouku puzzles in his crease waiting for the waves of attackers that rarely come.

If Briere and Knuble aren't found in time for tonight's Game Three, the Penguins are continuing their march to the Stanley Cup Final and Danny is going back to shooting pucks at abandonded warehouses. [Isn't that some type of vandalism?]

The Flyers haven't done any of the things that have won them two series in these playoffs. Their powerplay is one for six against the Penguins, and, at the same time they have allowed the Penguins powerplay to cruise at a 33.3% clip. They had one of the best combined specialty teams metrics in the league (105.0) when you add the PP & PK stats together. Now? Not so much.

It might be time to put on a lifejacket.

Their blueline, certainly a huge strength earlier in the playoffs, has been ravaged by injuries to Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. I don't think any team can succeed trying to replace around 50:00 worth of ice time formerly played by their top defenders. That aforementioned powerplay doesn't seem able to move the puck with the ease they could before. They seem static and punchless out there with guys like Randy Jones manning the point.

While all of that is true, they played a better Game Two [though, admittedly, anything had to be an improvement over Game One. I think MAF went down to Carson Street at one point in the game to grab a brew and a bite to eat.]

If they have any chances of winning and making this series interesting:

They're going to need to get more pucks toward Fleury--as I still feel no one has adequately tested him this playoffs.

They're also going to have to crash his crease. Not that I want the Flyers to get anywhere in the playoffs, but still, get in his wheelhouse and make those routine saves difficult ones.

And they're going to have to step up on these skilled Penguins forwards or they're going to skate all over them. Easier said than done I guess.



I might do another pseudo-live blog for Game Three. Give me some feedback. Let me know if it was at all worthwhile the last time and maybe some things I could use some work on.

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Thoughts: Flyers @ Penguins Gm 2

[Again apologies to Empty Netters as I'm borrowing from their very readable "live blog" style.]

Open of the Versus Broadcast

Joe Benenati's voice is played over a montage of clips of rabid fans screaming and cheering on their teams. He starts hyping this bitter rivalry, intra-state series and the pivotal Game Two about to take place. Okay, fair enough. This is typical stuff.

I was aware that the people of Philadelphia had a bit of a weight problem but there were at least a dozen people in Flyers shirts that were stretched so taut over their flabby midsections I thought they might suffocate. Either people in Philly aren't paying close attention to the care instructions on their clothes or it might be time to start considering a diet that lends itself toward living past 38.

Even a few Pens fans were looking a bit round. Maybe a few too many trips to Fatheads. But then again, who can blame someone for that? Mmm boy, Fatheads...

First Versus Commercial of the Night to Make You Shudder

I couldn't even tell you what this commercial was about--let's assume buck hunting or something else silly that Versus likes so much--but I was absolutely drawn in by the writing for it.

Whoever this dude was said, "Man versus animal, it don't get no realer than that."

Uhh.. Quint unavailable for comment.

I think there was a game going on or something though...

FIRST PERIOD

:45 - How glorious is this gem that came from the Versus announce team, "[The Flyers] went through lots of changes of underwear" in Game One. That's priceless. Couldn't have said it better myself guys.

1:45 - Ryan Malone makes a solid hit in the corner and frees up the puck. Gill tries to fling it toward the net but it deflects up into Braydon Coburn's face. First drops of blood begin to pool on the ice but a few seconds later Coburn's gloves are shown soaked in blood. Yikes. He is a hockey player though, so he should miss about a shift. Really though that's a huge blow for the Flyers. This guy is supposed to be eating up the minutes that Timonen usually would play and now they're scraping a few ounces of his blood off the ice.

2:20 - Solid work down low by Laraque-Talbot-Roberts. Won some battles and kept the puck down low.

Sometimes you think all this talk about Roberts is just funny and maybe it's all way overblown. Then you see a shot of him on the bench with that scowl etched into his face and you realize while children have nightmares.

3:49 - Wow. Tyler Kennedy just came out SWINGING. He and Scottie Upshall drop the gloves for the shenanigans at the end of Game One. An entertaining middleweight bout for sure. I'd say the win goes to Kennedy for the early flurry and to the guy picking the songs at Mellon for blasting "Walk" by Pantera.



Very nice touch.

5:25 - Pascal Dupuis just put on an impressive move to get by Richards who was covering up on defense, but he was unable to beat Biron as he flubbed the shot a bit.

8:30 - Crunch and Munch did Ruutu just get drilled against the far boards. You'd like to laugh at Derian Hatcher for being such a joke of a hockey player, but I'm too busy curled up in the fetal position hoping he doesn't hear the bad things I'm thinking about him

10:48 After a few solid chances on a power play just minutes before, the Penguins cash in on a Flyer crosscheck when Sidney Crosby scores from the bottom of the near circle. He let a wrist shot go that took a weird carom and fooled Martin Biron.

G CROSBY A GONCHAR

FLYERS 0 - PENGUINS 1

The Flyers are going to be in trouble minus Timonen and now Coburn as well. These guys were averaging 24:55 and 24:03 a game respectively. Ouch.

14:00 (or somewhere thereabouts..ish) - Hatcher hammers Malone at center ice. Scumbag or not, he certainly has to keep you honest as an opposing player.

15:19 - Hartnell spins by Gonchar who disrupted him just enough to send him to the ice where he gets off a weak backhander. That could've been something pretty incredible, but solid play by Gonchar to catch a piece of him as he went by.

16:41 - The Penguins dominate a session of 4 on 4 with some precise passing, keeping the puck in the Flyer end and generating some high-quality chances. Gonchar makes a strong move down low on Upshall and puts a backhand on net. The puck plinkos around a bit and Crosby appears to jam it home. Martin Biron, however, sweeps the puck out of the net before anything conclusive can be seen by the referee. To the War Room we go.

I was pretty sure this one was gonna count, but then again I'm rarely ever right about anything hockey-related. They say "no goal."

The NHL really should have a camera that can be blown up so you can see every single pixel at ice level. Benenati kept stammering on that you couldn't see the puck, but you could make it out through the webbing in Biron's glove.

I'm sorry but the NHL's cameras need to be able to see that. That thing should be able to spot Lindsay Lohan's underwear on the floor of a trendy LA club all the way from Toronto. If that puck was in, which I thought it was, it's inexcusable to miss that call.

SECOND PERIOD

:10 - This isn't all too relevant but I was amused. Randy Jones' stick just flew around the boards like a bobsled team taking a turn after challenging a Penguin for a puck. Look at it go teehee!

:34 - After a nice feed from Malkin, Hossa looks skyward after failing to bury a chance fromt he bottom of the circle.

2:48 - Dupuis with a great pass to send out Hossa who then feeds Crosby on the far wall. His initial bid is denied by a sprawling defender and the rebound is kept out with a sparkling save from an impossibly close area.

5:46 - Joffrey Lupul finds Jeff Carter out in front who beats Marc-Andre Fleury on the far side.

G Carter A Lupul A Modry

FLYERS 1 - PENGUINS 1

It doesn't happen often, but an in-game interview was kind of amusing. Chris Simpson talked to Braves pitcher Tom Glavine who was at the game tonight because those same Braves were in town to play the Pirates.

On his being a part of the 1984 NHL Draft Class: "Knowing I was drafted ahead of guys like Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, I know that obviously I would have been a Hall-of-Fame hockey player."

On his style as a hockey player: "I tried to stay out of the corners as much as I could."

Funny stuff...

7:45 - Jordan Staal lugged the puck in behind and finds Tyler Kennedy wide open in front. He's stymied trying to beat Biron five-hole.

13:34 - A weak call--though to a usually deserving culprit--on Derian Hatcher for hooking. The guy has his stick in a good position and is trying to make a physical play on Malkin, but his stick gets caught up between Malkin's legs. Hatcher goes off for hooking and the Flyers immediately pay.

13:43 - Hossa chips a rebound of a point shot past Martin Biron.

G Hossa A Malone A Gonchar

FLYERS 1 - PENGUINS 2

Some time around this time of the gameBenanati starts to say, "It's 2-1 against the villai...the visitors from the City of Brotherly Love." He had it right the first time.

15:40 The puck ramps up off Letang's stick on Richards' backhand attempt and forces Fleury to make a tough save. Is it just me or has he not had to make many of them in this series so far?

17:40 Malkin absorbs two big hits, one by Richards that he tried to duck and one by Downie that sat him down after a dump-in. It's not hard to see what the Flyers gameplan is here.

19:17 - Hatcher crosschecks Staal in the back of the neck and the Lady Byng Finalist makes his way to the box.

19:37 - A telegraphed pass is picked off by Mike Richards who's alone on Fleury from the red line in. No games or second guessing here, he bears down on the goal and snaps one high into the twine.

G Richards (SH)

FLYERS 2 - PENGUINS 2

THIRD PERIOD

:18 - "Waiting Room" - Fugazi. Again very nice.



:30 - Hatcher smashes Malkin into the glass behind the net. Malkin proceeds to get up and playmake. I would have been checked into intensive care.

1:50 (around there at least) Briere tries a wraparound, solid save by Fleury. Welcome to the 3rd Round Party Danny, the punch is over there and you can leave your coat in the penalty box because you're heading off for clocking Fleury in the head with your stick. Nice of you to show up though.

5:00 - If the Penguins do pull this series out, they're not going to do so without their fair share of bruises. Derian Hatcher crunches Tyler Kennedy deep in the Flyer end.

5:21 - Biron goes Billy Smith on Ruutu with a stick up high after Hatcher shoved him into the crease. Both get hit with penalties.

8:51 - Tremendous keep at the line by Talbot after a solid job of clearing the zone is done by Steve Downie and Derian Hatcher. The puck comes to Georges Laraque who fires wide, but Gary Roberts swoops in and zips a breathtaking pass into the slot for Maxime Talbot. Tape-to-tape and Talbot drills it into the net.

G Talbot A Roberts A Laraque

FLYERS 2 - PENGUINS 3

15:50 Biron nearly wets the bed with an ill-conceived pass up the middle that's picked off by Crosby. He skates in and only a sprawling effort by Marty keeps the puck out.

18:00 A scare for the Pens as Scottie Upshall streaks in with some speed and puts a shot on goal. The original shot and the rebound are kept out by Fleury and Carter skated by the rebound. He recollects the puck and rips it wide. Crisis averted for the guys in black and Vegas gold.

19:17 Appropriately enough, Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is playing in the background as the outcome of this game is becoming more and more clear.

19:32 That'll just about do it.

G Staal A Crosby A Gonchar (EN)

FLYERS 2 - PENGUINS 4

Ball game... Drive home safely

Thoughts tomorrow...

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More Thoughts in the Aftermath of a Season

MORE PENDING UFAs:

BRENDAN SHANAHAN













[Photo via The Hockey News]

The Rangers didn't have to shell out a lot of cash to get the return of 52-56-108 from Brendan Shanahan these past two seasons ($4m & $2.5m as base salaries with $2.8m in bonuses for the second year of his stay).

That being said, the concept of diminishing returns clearly came into play this season as bumps and bruises kept him out of nine games and his production dropped by about 25%. This fact is readily apparent in his playoff performance as he notched only five points in the Rangers 10 playoff games.

He was lethargic out there and was only a dangerous weapon once in the entire series against the Penguins and even then, he only registered an assist on the scoresheet.

He was certainly worth the investment the Rangers made in him for these past two seasons of work. His intangible leadership assets probably make the two contracts a steal for the Blueshirts. However, signing Brendan to another contract, without stipulating that his role with the team would change (ie far fewer minutes on the ice) would be a mistake.

It has to be hard for management to walk away from such a class act, but it might be time to do that. Guys like Nigel Dawes or Petr Prucha would excel in a second line role with more minutes. Let those guys slot in and let Brendan trade the jersey for the suit of an executive.

VERDICT: GONE FOR 2008-2009 WITHOUT A CHANGED ROLE

JAROMIR JAGR















[Photo via Daylife.com]

Some looked at his declining production this year--myself at times included--and thought that perhaps Jaromir's best days were behind him. I usually tried to give the guy a pass based on what he had already done for this team in 2+ seasons, but for the majority of the year it looked like he was done and that he knew it.

The lesson to be learned here is not to count out one of the most skilled and hardest working players the NHL has ever seen. He showed as much, if not more passion and heart in the closing weeks of this season than I've seen from any Ranger in recent memory. He was powerful on the puck, a threat nearly every time he was on the ice and he wanted it. He went to scoring areas with reckless abandon. The point here is this: the guy still has it.

His rejuvenated play paced the Rangers and was a key factor in their early success in the playoffs. The late season surge answers the critics who doubted what he had left to give so that issue is out of the way.

However, he might still have to look for a new team to play for this off-season for a number of reasons. This Rangers team, once rife with his countrymen, might only have one Czech on it when all is said and done this summer: Petr Prucha.

Secondly, the Rangers might not be willing to shell out the kind of money Jaromir is accustomed to earning. It was a lot easier to pay him $8.36m content in the knowledge that the Capitals would foot half the bill. If money is a big factor for Jagr, he might very well find more of it in the Russian Super League.

But, for the club, does a trip to Prague really make any sense without the most celebrated Czech athlete--or the most revered Czech period--coming along for the trip? It doesn't at all. I'm all for Petr Prucha, but let's face it, the people are going to shell out the Korunas for number sixty-eight, not the young winger trying to find his game.

I say, after considering all of the above, let the man give it another go--if he's willing to do so for a reasonable price--and let's see what happens. Let this be the Jaromir Jagr farewell tour: exhibitions in Europe, the season-opening games in Prague, another edition of the Winter Classic and one last shot at a Cup with--pending a productive Summer for the Rangers front office--a bolstered Rangers squad.

VERDICT: ONE MORE GO FOR JAGS

MICHAL ROZSIVAL















[Photo via Daylife.com]

Rozsival's stats (80GP 13G-25A-38P) are somewhat deceiving and may inflate the salary he's able to get this off-season. He only scored one goal in the season's final 27 games and only once more in ten playoff games. A player with an "offensive defenseman" label needs to produce a little more consistently on the offensive side of the puck.

He seemed to take a big step forward on both sides of the puck last season. He brought more of a physical game--the lack of which has always been a knock on Michal--and he chipped in a healthy 40 points. This year, however, he seemed to take one or two steps backward in those areas. He only showed that physical side on occasion and his offensive game all but disappeared sometime in February.

All of these bits of analysis are somewhat unfair to him though. He logged huge, first-pair minutes this year, when, in actuality, the guy is a third or fourth defenseman on a team with the correct makeup. In that role he could flourish and it's for this reason that the Rangers should re-sign him. Go out and sign a Brian Campbell to be a true number one d-man and let Michal play a more appropriate role.

VERDICT: RE-SIGN HIM BUT PLAY HIM WHERE HE BELONGS; 2ND PAIR

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It Would've Changed the Course of History...

This has just been sitting around on my computer for a while. As with most things on this blog, I don't know why it exists, but well, there ya go.

It either explains the real way Sean's spleen got banged up or it's a picture of who should've been on JFK's security detail. The second shooter would've thought twice before taking a cheap shot at a star like JFK with Avery on the ice.

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Thoughts: Flyers @ Penguins Gm 1

I'm watching the game tonight and I just want somewhere to toss down things that are flitting through my head as these teams square off in the first tilt of the Conference Finals. It'll probably read like an odd checklist of the most obvious things about the game, but I kind of want to do it regardless. Here goes...

[Just as a disclaimer, the format of this post is somewhat along the lines of what my favorite blog, Empty Netters, uses. Well, what they would use if they did their blogging half-assed...and were drunk.. But the inspiration for a "live blog"-esque post comes from them, so I'm aware of my borderline theft. Just trying to get a feel for the blogging world.]

FIRST PERIOD

I don't have the specific times I'm referencing, but Marian Hossa impressed me more in this first period than he did in an entire five-game series with the Rangers.

He twice put Flyers on their rear ends in the offensive zone either protecting or recovering a puck. I mean he put a shoulder into these hulking defenders and sat them down. What a ridiculously strong player.

If it isn't bad enough for opposing players that Hoss is strong as an ox but the guy is tenacious as hell. If you manage to get the puck from him in the offensive end--and that assumes you don't get knocked to the ice or that you can keep up with his elusive hands and stickhandling--you can rest assured that he will hound you all the way up the sheet in an attempt to retrieve what once was his.

He'll be worth every penny some team throws at him July 1st.

20:00 I really hope some casual fans, who maybe used to like hockey or were drawn in by this veritable all-star team Pittsburgh boasts, tuned into Versus to see what all the fuss was about because period was high-quality entertainment. There were goals, hits and chances galore. If that period can't win you over then my friend you might not be alive.

Before I even had the chance to comment on how the play on the ice wasn't really being reflected well by the shot clock, the Penguins knotted the game up and then took the lead in the period's closing seconds.

SECOND PERIOD

4:50 - What an incredible sequence of hockey. Brooks Orpik absolutely decimates Scott Hartnell behind the Penguin net, but gets called for a hold. Spectacular hit. On the ensuing PK, after a nice pokecheck by Marian Hossa just inside the Penguin blue line, Malkin is sprung on a semi-breakaway. With a Flyer draped on his back he gets a shot off that sails wide. He swoops around the net to retrieve the rebound but is drilled with a heavy body check behind the net by Mike Richards. He kind of hangs behind the play--in part to complain to the referee and maybe in part because he was scrambled eggs at the moment--and is found for another breakaway on a long stretch pass by Sergei Gonchar after the Pens thrart the Flyer rush that came the other way. He strides in and unleashes an absolute howitzer from the hash marks. Biron doesn't have a chance. The Mellon faithful go wild.

That was absolutely incredible. The series of events that just unfolded in the last few minutes are part of what make the NHL Playoffs the best tournament in all of sports. There were two bone-rattling hits, three, exciting end-to-end rushes and highlight reel-worthy, twine-bulging revenge enacted by a recently-humbled superstar.

That was good stuff. If some part of that doesn't make Top Plays on SportsCenter, go to hell ESPN.

9:10 - Does Sidney Crosby like making passes laying on the ice better than he does standing up? Hmmm... I spend a lot of time on the ice when I try to play ice hockey, but my thoughts are centered around crying or not getting back up, not making tape-to-tape passes from the ground.

13:00 - Malkin just threw all of his 6'3", 195lb frame into Braydon Coburn in the Flyer zone. Huge collision. It's difficult enough to have think about him every time the puck is on his stick because of his speed, vision and just how incredibly difficult it is to get the biscuit away from him. But the guy also brings the pain. I talked to someone I used to have Rangers season tickets with about how Crosby and Malkin would be the bane of our existence before Evgeni had even played an NHL shift. I don't think he believed me then--with how unknown of a commodity Geno was at the time--but do you think he believes me now?

18:00(ish) - Hossa is always on his horse to get back into the play. This might be the most obvious mark of a two-way player, but I'm a simple-minded person. I'm sure there are so many more brilliant things he does that a more insightful hockey mind could pick up on but depth isn't my thing so a perpetually hustling backchecker says two-way to me.

THIRD PERIOD

Not a lot doing in this third period. A little bit of nastiness at the end as Scottie Upshall and Kris Letang have some type of disagreement about their favorite Metallica albums. Upshall said his was St. Anger. Idiot. Incensed by this the other Penguins on the ice mob around him and give him the business. Derian Hatcher is picked up on the Versus mics whining about Ryan Malone having his gloves off. Pipe down psycho.

PENGUINS 4 FLYERS 2

Outside of a pair of glove saves and a puck that glanced off the crossbar, the Flyers didn't test Marc-Andre Fleury all too much in the second half of this game. That said, he was solid when he had to be, but the Flyers didn't really make him work up too much of a sweat tonight. I hope for the sake of a lengthy, compelling series the Flyers include "Shoot pucks at Penguin net" or "get meaningful chances" as part of their plan for Game Two and beyond. It might be crazy enough to work.

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Some Thoughts in the Aftermath of a Season

To say that I don't make all too frequent of posts on this blog is about as big of an understatement as saying that Paris Hilton might not be famous for her talents alone. Uhh.. Right..

Anyway, I clearly haven't posted anything since the season's very first game and now, only after the last game--the conclusion of which felt like a punch to the stomach by the by--did I find the need to come back here and speak my mind again. Why I don't know. What I do know is no one is reading this, so let's rock and roll.

I'm going to put together some thoughts on some personnel decisions the Rangers should make this off-season. Here's an installment in that compelling mini-series:

SOME UFA THOUGHTS:

SEAN AVERY:
























[Photo via TheHollywoodGossip.com]

I have to doubt that Martin Brodeur refused to shake Sean Avery's hand simply because of a little stick-waving and crease-crashing. Tomas Holmstrom isn't slighted for the latter by opponents after a hard-fought playoff battle. Would something so insignificant as what Avery did--insignificant despite having a rule created in its honor--really insult Martin on such a deep and poignant level that he'd refuse him that gesture of respect. I'd have to guess that Avery got under his skin in more ways than just those overt, physical ways the camera picked up. I'd bet that Sean Avery dug up some dirt, as he is want to do, and had a few choice words for Marty that really twisted the knife. I could be completely talking out of my rear, but I feel there's something more to it than what we all know about.

That long diversion now out of the way, I can actually answer the question. Do the Rangers re-sign Sean Avery?

Sean has never scored at a higher rate than he has with the Rangers. Ever. He produces offensively. He's never been a better two-way player in his career as the plus figures in his stats attest to. The guy was a minus ten when he came to New York and a minus five the year before with the Kings. He was a plus eleven in 29 games with the Rangers at the tail-end of last season and a plus six this past year. He produced while he could in the playoffs (4-3-7 in 8 gms) though certainly didn't have the effect against the Penguins that he did against the Devils. I'm telling you, if you've got the barbs to use you're going to really rile some people up. If you don't, you're a lot easier to ignore and negate.

Any doubts about his value to this team are easily effaced by moments like these:

* Avery play vs. Buffalo 3/10 - Here Sean absolutely blasts a Sabre in the corner and then sets up a Jagr goal with a nifty backhand pass.


* The game-winning tally against against Buffalo - This was from a bit earlier in the season. The audio on this clip is pretty bad and I'm not a fan of the new video interface that NHL.com uses, but what can you do? Avery scored this goal, the game-winner, set up another goal and also got into a scrap. Punch another hole on Sean Avery's Gordie Howe hat trick frequent customer card. If you get to 12 you get a free catscan! Sweet!


* Whatever he said to Darcy Tucker and Jason Blake--we know now it was nothing as disgraceful as making light of Blake's illness--sure did plenty to stir the pot back on November 10th. He had another Gordie Howe hat trick as he scored a goal, set up one by Brendan Shanahan and exchanged a few jabs with the aforementioned Leafs instigator.


Yes he's injury prone because of the reckless abandon with which he plays. Maybe that can be advantageous somehow for the Rangers management in their quest to sign him to another contract. He really just gives the Rangers the edge that they absolutely lack when he isn't in the line-up. Middle fingers cast at news cameras, crease-bound shenanigans and whatever else you can think up aside, the Rangers need him. He might even need the Rangers. I can't imagine him flourishing in any Canadian city, situation with a hard-assed coach or any place that lacks the energy of New York City. Besides, how is he going to get to his Vogue internship if he's all the way out in the Western Conference or God knows where else?

VERDICT: SIGN THE GUY, TRY TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING A COMPLETE JERK-OFF THE BEST YOU CAN, ACTUALLY GET HIM TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA AND I THINK WE'RE IN BUSINESS

MARTIN STRAKA:






















[Photo via Daylife.com]

It's hard to say anything bad about Marty Straka. You look at him and see his legs churning under his body in this "Little Engine That Could" sort of way and you respect his effort. He tenaciously backchecks, fearlessly throws himself in front of shots and doesn't back down from anyone. He's a solid Ranger in those respects.

Having said that, he had a rough year production wise for the Blueshirts. He had one of his worst years statistically since the 03-04 season he split between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. He missed 17 games and went 14-27-41 on the year. Injury or no injury, those numbers certainly aren't indicative of a first liner. His placement at the point on the power play is even more confusing. He has no slap shot to be heard of (maybe less so as recent injuries have added up) so why is he out there? The Rangers need a stud defenseman in that role and they need someone more willing to shoot and less likely to force a pass to be playing on the first line. I'm not sure who that second someone will be, but it shouldn't be Martin Straka. I realize that he and Jagr have this invisible link and that maybe having Marty on the team will be a condition of Jagr's to stay in the New York. If that's the case, then perhaps it's worth it to see him around one more season. I hope to God it's not at the blueline manning the point on the on the power play, but to keep Jags, I could see keeping Straka.

However, if it's not a condition of Jaromir's or sixty-eight decides to bolt the Big Apple for Omsk, Kladno, Pittsburgh or Detroit--who knows where that somewhere would be--then sorry to say it, but Marty goes.

VERDICT: NO JAGS NO STRAKS, NO DEMANDS FROM JAGR TO KEEP HIM, AGAIN, NO STRAKS

PAUL MARA:























[Photo via 5hole.com]

The guy cost the Rangers almost nothing. Aaron Ward is solid depth defenseman, but considering that and the fact that he is 35, Paul Mara really came cheaply. He has been a solid plus player with the team and has brought a level of physicality and power play quarterbacking ability--though he hasn't been given a through opportunity to really show off those man-up skills--that the Rangers d-corps hasn't known in the past few seasons. He put up some solid, solid offensive seasons with the Coyotes--but I guess take that with a grain of salt--and he is a former 7th overall pick. The guy is skilled. He had 42 and 47 points in the seasons that straddled the lockout. He could be the answer to the Rangers power play problems if only he were given a legitimate chance.

As he didn't cost them very much the first time, one would have to think a season with one goal and sixteen assists won't really up his value all that much this second time the Rangers have the opportunity to secure his services. Let him play some third pair minutes with a Sanguinetti or a Sauer, assuming either can make the team, and let him strafe the blueline and unleash some howling blasts on the first power play unit. He and Brian Campbell would look good out there on the ice together with the man-advantage. Very good.

VERDICT: SIGN THE GUY BUT AGAIN, USE IN A WAY THAT HIS STRENGTHS COME TO THE FOREFRONT

That's all for now. Some of the bigger guns to come...

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