Jag Gotta Believe!

UPDATE: Korpikoski will make his NHL debut today in place of Colton Orr; Avery has been released from the hospital. For more see Blushirts Blog, Rangers Report and Blue Notes reporting live from Pittsburgh.

When Jaromir Jagr says "Ya gotta believe!" there is more to it than just sports. Jagr has always been deeply religious, and he believes there is more at work than just athletics. You may not share his belief that a higher spiritual power is focused on an hockey game, but that's not the point -- the point is that Jagr himself believes, and that drives him even beyond the innate world class talent he already possesses.

The last time Jagr invoked his beliefs in public was during the All-Star break in 2007 when everyone had already written the Rangers off as another flop. With the help of a true godsend -- the arrival of Sean Avery -- Jagr helped carry the Rangers to the playoffs, as promised. While there was little margin for error during that playoff run, there is now zero margin for error after the Rangers let three winnable games slip away and grow into a 3-0 series deficit before finally closing one out last Thursday to stay alive. So Jagr and the Rangers will have to be perfect in Pittsburgh this afternoon if they want to extend the series to a sixth game in New York tomorrow evening.

Jagr is the leading subject in some of the news reports today -- see the Daily News, Journal News, Newsday, Times, Post, Record, Star-Ledger, TSN, and Tribune-Review. Additional notes and game previews, including Avery being released from ICU, can be found the Daily News, Post, Record, Toronto Sun here and here, Vancouver Sun, National Post, Globe & Mail, AP, ESPN, NYR.com, Rangerland, Slap Shot, and Prospect Park. The Daily News pans NBC's playoff coverage. Classy: Jagr telling Brooks Orpik his hit was clean, according to this note in a Pittsburgh paper; classless: Pens' coach Michel Therrien dismissing Malkin's slew-foot while taking a gratuitous potshot at Avery. We've developed a tic in our left hand typing "here" for all the Pittsbugh area reports, especially since the e and r are neighbors on the keyboard, so we're going to take a pass on links from there today.

It's ironic that Tom Renney is again considering giving Lauri Korpikoski his first NHL start today in Pittsburgh. That's because the Rangers drafted the 21-year-old Finn with the 19th overall draft pick in 2004 that they got in part by trading the second round draft pick they received as compensation for being unable to sign R.J. Umberger to an entry level contract that June. Yes, that's the same R.J. Umberger who scored eight goals in five games to lead the Flyers to a five-game upset of top-seeded Montreal last night -- on Umberger's 26th birthday.

Fans who remember that the Rangers owned the rights to the Pittsburgh native point to him now with some regret that we missed out on him. But most fail to recall why he didn't sign with the Rangers. There are lingering notions that he had a bad attitude or that he didn't want to sign with the Rangers. The truth is that after sitting out the entire season due to a contract dispute with Vancouver, the team that drafted him 16th overall in 2001, and being acquired by the Rangers during the great purge of March 2004, the Rangers, after having Umberger work out with the team in practice, offered him a $250,000 contract or thereabouts -- he wanted something closer to the entry-level cap of $1.2 million.

So that was his bad attitude and his refusal to consider the Rangers' offer -- he was lowballed. So the Rangers instead got a compensatory draft pick, which they packaged with the first round pick they got from Toronto as part of the Brian Leetch deal to move up from #24 to #19 to nab Korpikoski. So we have a prospect who may have a marginal chance to be a depth player in the NHL instead of Umberger and one of the players drafted in the next ten picks in 2004 -- Mike Green, Wojtek Wolski, Andrej Meszaros, or Travis Zajak.

That was also the year we drafted Al Montoya sixth overall. Ranger fans can point to the Pens getting the benefit of all those high draft picks, with Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and Staal all taken first or second overall. While the Rangers never had any single pick that high, let alone four of them, they did have seven straight top twelve picks and have exactly zero NHL players to show for those picks, four of them busts (Brendl, Lundmark, Jessiman, and so far Montoya), one a useful but marginal NHL player for another team (Malhotra), one lost early to injury (Blackburn), and one traded away for a player lost quickly to injury (Bure).

Comments

[RobZ]

Lets see how long it takes us to get pissed at NBC. Should take about a minute........

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!

LeTs Go RaNgErS!!!!!!

Lets Go Rangers!!!!!!

[onetimer]

Dubi,

I didn't see it in your links, but the Boston Globe sunday hockey column leads off with some musings on the Jagr rejuvenation.

www.boston.com/sports/hockey/articles/2008/05/04/not_ready_to_call_it_a_game/

[Puluche]

Let's keep the faith and see if the series does turn with the help from a few breaks and bounces - can't count on the refs and hopefully not blame them.

Look forward to the line up. Knowing Renney - he probably won't make any changes - but Struds looked slow and overwhelmed out there last game. Would like to see Malik get a shot and maybe stabilize and help Rosival. Will Prucha ever get any meaningful playing time on the PP?

Let's get the lead and play our game and get it back to MSG! Let's go boys!

[out0fyourelement]

YA GOTTA BELIEVE!!!

STAY POSITIVE!!!

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

[joeymole]

from tsn ice chips web page:

The Latest from the New York Rangers
Tom Renney said he would probably use the same lineup in Game 5 as he did in Game 4, with defenceman Jason Strudwick playing in place of Christian Backman, and a fourth line of Colton Orr, Ryan Hollweg and Fred Sjostrom. Rangers star Sean Avery has been released from hospital after recovering from a lacerated spleen. - New York Times /TSN

game 7 approach for rangers today?? hope they play every shift at 110%. and hope to see more rangers besides jagr and henrik carry this game!! drury? gomez? shanny? 1 hour to go and my stomach is already in knots.

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

[Mark W.]

Come onnnnnnn Rangers let's do it!

[Puluche]

Korpikoski in for Orr - only changes...

[LisaMY]

One moment at a time
One shift at a time
One period at at time

LGR!!!!

Let's go boys! Win one for "The Jagr"!

[Scott]

Let's Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[paularensburg]

!!!!!

[Matty]

game time ... err after NBC does all their commercials and Pro Crosby Penguins promotional stuff ...

I'm nervous, excited and ready ... Let's get it done boys and bring it back to the Garden, I want a hockey game tomorrow night!

[pj]

Shift by shift
period by period
game by game

I HATE Mike Douchebury. Why do they have to have an inverterate ranger hater as the broadcaster of our game today?

I am not ready for the end of the hockey season today.

Make our dreams come true boys!

[Matty]

PJ I think it's done on purpose to try and prove a point that he isn't biased toward the Rangers even though he obviously is ... but ever since he dissed Jagr a few months ago and the Rangers have refused to give NBC access to Jagr, by his request, Milbury always starts getting all the Rangers assignments(which aren't many)

Who was that dude interviewing J.Staal? "Are you looking to squash the life out of the Rangers?"

I wonder what's the over/under that another Penguins, perhaps oh I don't know Crosby? Gets interviewed before the game starts ...

[Jed Orts]

a little frustration, not at all?

liar!!!!!!!!

[Matty]

Hey! I guessed right ... that was hard ...

Ok can they stop all this already and get the game started ... ugh

[rangerbill94]

While I don't believe for a second that God cares about hockey, He does care about the gifts He gives to His human creations and how they are used. The full use of those gifts are give glory to God and that is why the gifts were given in the first place.

[HawksHockey27]

Oh Jags :( We dont need to give them a pp.

[ant]

Where was a hook??

[Jed Orts]

they gotta be aggressive on the pk

[HawksHockey27]

Lets go Dru!

[Jed Orts]

did he say first shift of the game? are we watching the same game here?

[bx mike]

nice looking shot there for korpo

[HawksHockey27]

Is Lauri wearing the 22? Nice spray to Flurey if he is.

[Zach]

korpikoski looks good.

[rangerbill94]

22 is Korpo...and that was a good shot!

[max]

and that wasnt his first shift I think I have seen him on the ice before

[Josh]

korpikoski is looking good with a nice shot there

[HawksHockey27]

Lets go boys! ITS A POWER PLAY GOAL!!!

[iceycup]

shanny needs to retire. he CANNOT be on this team next year.

[HawksHockey27]

....or not....

[max]

typical the pens have the best scoring chances on the rangers pp

[rangerbill94]

Sure looked like interference behind the Pens net with Jagr knocked down? Dubi had the puck!

[HawksHockey27]

Oh come on! Control the puck!

[zach]

straka's gotta go.

[bx mike]

CMON NIGEL!

[Jed Orts]

dawes??? omg

wide open net

[rangerbill94]

How did Dawes miss that one?

[john]

Good first period.
Lets go Boys!

[HawksHockey27]

Anyone else think the Ice looks aweful?

[pj]

Dawes??? Should have scored. We had two PP and they both sucked.

Hit from behind on Jags by FAGINA Malkin. Starting to think he is as dirty as cindy crybaby.

[Shawn]

The ice had looked awful in Pitts the entire seasons, the first couple of the games the puck looked like a beach ball bouncing around out there.

[HawksHockey27]

That net was wide open for Dawes. I cant beleive he missed that.

[Joe in DE]

Not a bad period, could have been a lot worse. The D is looking pretty good at the blue line.

We just gotta get the pucks to the net. Big shots from the point aren't going to work here. Get the shot on goal, crash for a rebound. Pittsburgh is keeping everything to the outside. Towards the end of the period our puck movement was looking a little sloppy. Passes weren't as crisp and lots of juggling, unlike in the first half of the period. Keep the pressure on and play smart, we'll be OK.

Let's Go Rangers!

[HawksHockey27]

As I watch the Nothing But Crosby coverage I cant help but wonder what kind of trouble Sean Avery is causing in the hospital while watching this game...

[Jed Orts]

did the penguins buy exclusive rights to NBC as their home broadcast??

[Matty]

Dude Nigel has got to BURY that!

Specially since Gomer had a little spurt there and looked a bit like he did in the Devils series ... Gomer is the BEST skater on our team and better than most on the Pens and he needs to use that to his advantage specially with TWO speedy wingers on his line ...

However, Strong period for Henrik and the Rangers(except for the PP) ... while the Penguins tried to crash the net and did a few times he is out challenging instead of being deep in his net ... Henrik being ON is the most important thing other than Jagr being on ...

That Penalty on Jagr, which is fine he had his stick across the Penguin dude's midsection ... BUT what annoys me is that Penguin players attempt to stop Jagr doing the EXACT SAME THING but he barely flinches and as such the penalty goes uncalled ... in any case I think we need to get in Fleury's kitchen a heck of a lot more than we did in the first ... he looked scrambly and out of position when we were driving to the slot but we couldn't bury it(Dawes wide, Shanny missed deflection) ...

Now like game 4 we need to continue to chip away, continue to play smart defensively and get it going!

Go Rangers!

[Alan]

according to sam weinamn, sean was released. i'm surprised by that.

that moron with the other moron milbury makes me yearn hopelessly for mcguire. that's pathetic.

[HawksHockey27]

I know Sean was released from ICU, but I think he is staying in the hospital to monitor his condition for the next week or so.

[HawksHockey27]

Are they seriously talking about penguins like actual birds durring a hockey game?!?! Somehow I'm not suprised

[ant]

Why the announcers talk about Fluery like hes the best goalie in a league

[Matty *I Believe*]

the plus about the commercials during the intermissions is that no Mulbury .... eh ... gah .. they are showing "live" little Penguins ... they have a Penguin actually named "Sidney" ... but then when little kids go to the zoo and see "Little Sidney" dive they'll say "Hey Dad & Mom just like Big Sidney!!!"

[HawksHockey27]

Oh God. DRU!

[ant]

Drury is a warrior

[bx mike]

MAKE A CALL

[john]

How do you miss that call!

[HawksHockey27]

Better be a dubble minor!

[max]

typical they miss the penalty on the pens. sigh

[Laserman]

Unbelievable no call on that high stick!!!

[iceycup]

no penalty? if not, what a sham. that has to be 4 minutes... i mean how much *&%#ing blood do u need to see?

[Jed Orts]

you can understand why they missed it, it was in front of thenet in plain view for everyone to see

[HawksHockey27]

Theres blood on the ice how the hell is there no call!

[KJA]

If Jagr's "hook" was called hooking, then Ryan Malone be sitting in the box right now for his carelessness with his high-stick.

[ant]

Unreal that wasnt called.If this was Crosby it wouldve been Major and a game misconduct

[HawksHockey27]

Holy Hank is on his head

[HawksHockey27]

And now Capts in the box. Can anyone say "One sided?"

[zach]

drury just got clipped real good, blood everywhere.
but it happened because roszival hit malone's stick up into drury's face.
mike milbury is saying "the pens got away with one, it should have been a 4 minute penalty."

id take a powerplay but the announcers are so stupid.

[max]

what was the penalty?

[Laserman]

What a bunch of unprofessional idiots these refs are!!!

[rangerbill94]

So the NHL wants Philly and Pitt. Better TV revenue!

[HawksHockey27]

The officials and NHL may want it. But I dont think they'll get it, We want it too much

[Josh]

WHAT!???? Malone gets away with a highsticking double minor and then he gets a penalty drawn in the next shift?

[zach]

i agree with the no call. roszival put the stick up into drurys face

[HawksHockey27]

Did we seriously pull Hank?

[Josh]

great PK so far

[HawksHockey27]

Can we find the net?....please?

[zach]

we can't hit the net....

[Jed Orts]

offside?

[HawksHockey27]

Any one else see the interferance happening infront of the Pit net? And we get the penalty?

[zach]

hahahahaha i would have laughed if they had called a penalty shot again.

[Laserman]

Rozsival is plain awful!!!

[HawksHockey27]

I love Henrik right now

[HawksHockey27]

**sigh**

[Laserman]

Could see that coming!!!

[rangerbill94]

Well, that sucks!!!

[Jed Orts]

ROZSIVAL, GET OFF OUR TEAM!!!!!!

[max]

bench roszival

[ant]

Wow Rozie

[HawksHockey27]

Poor Coach, I dont want Rozy on the Ice anymoe

[Laserman]

Rozsival is the an idiot!!!

[Jameson]

Well the refs have made their mark on this game. Them and our horrible no shot powerplay.

[HawksHockey27]

Poor Coach. I want Rozy off the ice

[Laserman]

Is an idiot, that is. No matter, you get the point!!!

[HawksHockey27]

Lundy is keeping us alive. Wheres our Capitan when we need him?

[john]

I think its time for a time out!

[Laserman]

Renney should use his timeout now, and get this ship righted!!!

[Leo]

C'mon guys, put some pressure.

[HawksHockey27]

We need to Attack them, come on boys. PLAY YOUR GAME!

[HawksHockey27]

Yeah we need that time out now.

[Jed Orts]

their defense is pathetic

[rangerbill94]

If you don't attack the puck, you loose!

[ant]

damn

[HawksHockey27]

Jags is gonna hit someone

[Phill]

No desperation from the Rangers.

[pj]

Fagina scores. Pens dominating. Rangers going down without a fight.

Sad, very sad...

[HawksHockey27]

Thank goodness lets kick up our PP a little bit we need a goal

[Josh]

the net was off the moorings thats supposed to be a stoppage!!

[john]

could we get a shot to the net

[HawksHockey27]

But were in Pittsburg. The normal rules do not apply.

[Laserman]

Its pretty sad watching our D men trying to hit the net with a shot! Pathetic!!!

[HawksHockey27]

Were playing like this is a throwaway game.

[Leo]

It's over.

[Jed Orts]

if the pens were smart they would just keep taking penalties lol

[max]

how is it that our guys cannot find any open ice with a man advantage?

[HawksHockey27]

I would say that its not over yet we still have one more period and a PP coming up. But with the way were playing. Its a shame

[john]

we could we please use the points to open up lanes. need this next pp to get shots!

[TheDaz]

It ain't over.

We've seen the Rangers turn it on before, and they can play impassioned hockey again...

Of course, we've also seen them dissolve into a fog and play like crap when faced with adversity, so lets just say it "could" be over.... but I hope it isn't.

For starters Renney should throw a different PP unit out there.

GO RANGERS!

[rangerbill94]

Got to make them pay. If they don't respect our PP, then ANY threat will be met with a hook, interference or something.

Use the points to settle the play down.

[HawksHockey27]

Theres no PP? Come on! Someone do somthing about these Refs

[Leo]

I'm saying it's over just because the way we're playing.

[HawksHockey27]

ROZY IM GOING TO HURT YOU

[Josh]

can anyone please explain to me (besides for pittsburgh owning the league) how the play didnt stop when the net was clearly off its mooring with the puck behind it, and then brought up all the way up score?

[bx mike]

WHAT IS THAT CALL LOL

also, hawkshockey27, stop posting plz ty

[Jed Orts]

gary roberts, super man whoaaaaaaa

[john]

bad call. missed call on ruttue

[Josh]

roszi!?!? get out of here!!

[Leo]

List for those who should leave:

Roszi
Hollweg
Malik
Orr
Renney
Pearn

[BLAZE]

Rozsival is a horror show on ice. Looks as though they've given up.

[scinoc]

At some point, can some Ranger get in Ruuttu's face...this is absurd.

[stuart]

nice call on the Malone double minor.

ooh I am sorry I rogt they only call that if the guy loses an eye..

at least milbury mentioned it again..

great reffing...

[Joe in DE]

Bad period. Nothing more, nothing less. Crap power play, bad penalties... bottom line. No real sense of urgency from the Rangers. I hope Renney goes back to the locker room and flips over some tables

[cr]

Josh the changed to rules so that it is not an automatic whistle when the net is off the moorings if the play continues to the other end of the ice.

[Ted]

the play doesnt stop when the net is off it's moorings until the opposing team touches the puck, because the rangers didnt have possession they didn't need to blow the whistle, that is why

[scinoc]

No doubt, Stuart. But, please, let it go -- our PP is awful. Has been all year.

[Shawn]

We need to channel some San Jose Sharks and pull a 3-2 OT win out of the air. If they can do it, we can do it.

Believe...

I'm trying...

[Laserman]

Yeah, why hasn't Ruutu been put in a coma yet??? He's been in Jagr's face all game!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

Well ... our PP is doing it again ... which is nothing which equals big trouble for us as it has all season long ... Henrik, he's been great, but if the PP doesn't score and if we spend half the period on the PK and the guys are letting Fleury have a holiday what do they expect? Penguins could already have 5 goals if it weren't for him ...

Can Scott Gomez, Shanny, Dawes, Straka help Jagr out who is being shadowed ... I mean is he the only one who will do it ?

[rangerbill94]

We've had plenty of PP opportunities to be back in this game. Same problem as all season long. 20 minutes of all out hockey. Shorten the bench. Don't give up the defensive game until the 10 minute mark if we haven't gotten a goal.

[Leo]

There's no need to play series like that. Just give'em the cup if Bettman wants that so hard.

crap

If we're going to lose, crush cindy's face to the boards.

[RobZ]

Can you imagine if we come back? The effect it will have on them. I mean i'm obviously being premature, but hey it can happen!

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!

[stuart]

brains surgeoNS if roszival lifted malones stick or not it does not matter,

morons it is a penalty.. READ THE RULE BOOK MENTAL MIDGETS...

[Laserman]

If the Rangers can't pull this one out, I will definitely root for the Flyers to win the next round. I thought I would never, ever see that day after the Dale Rolfe incident. I hate Crosby & co. so much though, that it might become a reality!!!

[jimbo51]

c'mon Rangers! We need a little more passion and a level playing field from the refs. I can't stand listening to this game from these idiots perspective. Let's Go Rangers!!!

[scinoc]

I know this...few teams would allow their best player to be yapped at by Ruuttu like the Rangers are allowing. Playoffs, or no playoffs, this can't be allowed to happen.

[Laserman]

RobZ: Probably the same effect as losing the 1st one had on us!!!

[Jed Orts]

please, if the rangers lose then they lose like men. no going out to try and injure someone

plus, incase anyone is forgetting there is still 20 minutes left in this game

they need more SHOTS

[ralph]

refs commentators and milbury and crosby are all against us give me a break im going to write a letter to bettman cause this is bull sheet

[Jed Orts]

like i said, MORE SHOTS!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

OMG Korpi!!!!

[ant]

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOLLLLYYYYYYYYY
KORPI!!!!!!!mAYBE HES NOT A BUST AFTER ALL

[Laserman]

Now thats what I'm talking about! Korpikoski!!!!

[cr]

WELCOME TO THE NHL LAURI!! immediate fan favorite

[bx mike]

korrppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[iceycup]

what a rocket. anyone have an answer why we didnt get a call in our favor with the drury facial cut?

[max]

um I think korpikoski needs more ice time

[Marc H.]

Okay,we are back in this game.

[Matty *I Believe*]

Play him MORE Tom, MORE!

Fleury only looks invincible because he isn't getting tested ... so start throwing EVERYTHING at the nets!!!

Henrik with a BIG save before we scored ... come on boys ... 17 minutes to score another to get it back to even ... We can do it Boys!!

Let's Go Rangers!

[iceycup]

woah...........

[Sam]

dawes

believe!!!

[max]

DAWES!!!!

[Jameson]

WOOOOO

[Laserman]

DAWES!!!!!!!!!!

[ant]

YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!

[bx mike]

asdfas;ldkjfa;slkjdflk;jasdj;klf
asdfjkasdfk
jask
jdfk
j;asdkj;
fas
jk;dfjk
;asdjk;
fk;ajsdfkj

[Puluche]

keep praying...

[cr]

WELCOME TO THE NHL LAURI!! immediate fan favorite

[Matty *I Believe*]

DAWES!!!

OMG OMG OMG!!!!

I should call him out more!!!

Gomer to Dawes and it goes IN!!!!

[Winchester]

This is our period!

[Ted]

DO YOU BELIEVE?!?!

[Laserman]

Keep coming at them!!!

[bx mike]

HANK

[bx mike]

RANGERS ARE FLYING AROUND!!!

[John...I need a new name]

Dawes! Great goal, AMAZING playoff beard.

[bx mike]

short shifts now, keep the intensity up!

[Jed Orts]

is gomez just trying to do too much?

[max]

prucha replacing straka with jagr and dubi?

[Leo]

Jesus Christ keep forcing them into their zone.

New York "Rocky Balboa" Rangers!

[Jed Orts]

staal saved a goal!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

Dude, Henrik made a save with the BLADE of his freaking skate as his leg was goin up ... barely ... talk about awesome ...

ALL the freaking PRESSURE is on the Penguins ... they DO NOT WANT to back to NY ... they do not want to come to the Loudest and Rowdiest builing in the playoffs that MSG WILL BE if our boys pull it off and force a game 6 ... We HAVE to take advantage of this ...

I'd rather 5 on 5 play because our PP seems to put us in a funk and we outplay them 5 on 5 ...

Go Rangers!

[iceycup]

sure are a lot of tv timeouts. and long ones too.

[NCSteve]

Don Maloney, God bless you for talking up Korpikoski!

Go Rangers!

[Matty *I Believe*]

Hey "anomymous"

Real "BRAVE" post you have posted there ... why don't you go cheer for the Islanders or Penguins then ... Good Riddance ...

[Leo]

"I hate Renney!!! I hate Pearn!!!!"

Ditto

Unfortunately they won't get kicked by Sather.

[Jed Orts]

tyuts, hit the net :(

[Laserman]

Tyutin misses the net!!!! Sheeesssshhhh!!!!!

[iceycup]

ANOTHER TV TIMEOUT? IS THIS NORMAL?

[rangerbill94]

I'm home alone and I don't have Life-Alert!!!

[max]

these tv time outs are normal in the playoffs. nbc has to play the bills. unfortunately they change the game. for instance an icing followed by a long tv time out isnt as punitive because the players get a rest.

[Matty *I Believe*]

rangerbill94 just have 911 on speed dial

Let's go Rangers!

[Leo]

No, if the penguins are on a bad momentum they call a tv timeout.

[Sam]

911 please...

[rangerbill94]

Thanks, Matty!

[Jed Orts]

PENALTY?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! OMG

i quit for the nhl, i quit

[Laserman]

I hate the NHL what its become!!! BETTMAN SUCKS!!!

[Jed Orts]

nevermind, thought they gave a crosscheck

[ant]

1 MIN LEFT THEY CALL A PNEALTY ON US I CANT BELIEVE THIS.

[Matty *I Believe*]

We are getting a penalty ...

[BLAZE]

that's the game.

[iceycup]

of course... what a joke the refs are making of this league.

[Matty *I Believe*]

4 minute PP ... against Chris Drury ... which is ironic given what happened in the 2nd ... this sucks ...

The boys have to give it all they have here ...

Henrik has to be out of his mind here ...

*can't watch*

[Jed Orts]

anyone see the replay of the penalty???

[Leo]

Call the cops, the ref are inmates from some correctional facility.

=)

[out0fyourelement]

STAY POSITIVE!!!!!!!

ENOUGH WITH THE REF STUFF

WE ARE IN THIS STAY POSITIVE!!!!

++++++++++++++++

[Matty *I Believe*]

Ok so we are going into OT ... the boys can rest and just NOT ALLOW THE PENGUINS ANY ROOM AT ALL ...

This royally stinks ... this freaking penalty ... which is a penalty and I am not disputing it but given how they royally missed Drury's high sticking in period two I have the right to get upset about it ...

[max]

did they ever show a replay of the penalty?

[NYRanger4Life]

I think I just had a heart attack.
That makes a bakers dozen

[TheDaz]

heart is too tight... can't focus... too tense...

[Indy Rangers Fan]

KEEP POSITIVE, Rangers just need to last out the first couple of minutes, the pens will come hard and fast hoping to end it quick.... LET'S GO RANGERS!! DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rangerbill94]

I doubt we can get out of this one. Can anybody say Blair Betts?

A microcosm of the season...Drury takes a cut and no 4 minute PP and then he gets called for a 4 minute penalty. Irony is so ironic, wouldn't you say?

[stuart]

MAL0NE THE CULPRIT ON THE NON CALL GET THE CALL...

penguin fans I know I am just paranoid the referees re never wrong......

what a riggin joke...

[Joe in DE]

Definitely a high stick on Drury, but BS that Malone gets away with one and we don't. Whatever. Whether the refs suck or not isn't going to change a thing if we lose. All thought and action should go into killing this penalty and scoring.

GO BIG AND GO HOME

[Matty *I Believe*]

Yes ...

This will NOT be a repeat of game 5 last year for us ... we are the ones with the momentum .. we HAVE to kill this off for Dru, we have to kill this off for Henrik and Jagr and our season ... It's time for our PK to come through BIG TIME where our PP has let us down ...

Go Rangers!

[max]

Still havent seen a replay, but if drury did get the stick up and cut malone they have to call it. As a ranger fan, I'd love it if they said an eye for an eye, or in this case, a cut for a cut, but just because they screwed up one call, doesnt mean that they should make up for it. I can deal with the refs calling legit penalties. and just because they call a penalty doesnt mean they are biased.

[kc]

It's all going to come down to luck -- if it's our destiny or not. Keep fighting!

[iceycup]

heres a question. who do you put on the PK with the season on the line?

who do you put on the PK with the season on the line?

[Jed Orts]

i'm so scared, maybe fleury will collapse under the pressure here

[BLAZE]

of course Shanny will be out there.

[Matty *I Believe*]

this is it ... is now or never ... oh lord ...

[iceycup]

if they score on this PP, im never watching this game again.

the refs are so biased it embarrassing.

[Three Chord Monte]

I'm proud of the Rangers. I'm digusted with the NHL.

I watched a poorly officiated twelve-year-old girls' lacrosse game Friday night. It wasn't this bad.

The problem the NHL has is officiating. When Joe six pack can turn on his TV, see that nothing else is on so he may as well watch some ice hockey on his amazing HD wide-screen, sees a guy with a white jersey gets cut by a guy in a black jersey, watches while they scrape the blood off the ice, and then tries in vain to understand why in this day and age of instant replay that there is no call, then something is wrong. No, Joe six pack, you're not stupid, it's the NHL! Adding to his confusion, Joe must scratch his head as, once the play resumes, another guy in blue gets a penalty called "hooking" for simply raising his stick above his knees. "What the hell kind of game is this", asks Joe as he tunes to PGA Tour Golf, a much slower, less exciting game, but at least the officiating is easy to understand. "Man, I just don't understand the rules to hockey", opines Joe.

Win or lose, the NHL sucks.

[max]

too much passing

[Matty *I Believe*]

we killed it off ... o m g ...

[Jed Orts]

omg rozzy, you make me cry

[rangerbill94]

What a kill!!!

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

[Laserman]

Keep Rozsival off the ice already!!!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

can we stop playing in our zone ... yes, that would be very nice ...

[BLAZE]

i can't take anymore of this.

[Shawn]

And that's the season.

[max]

that was inevitable they way the rangers played overtime.

[Jed Orts]

nice, way to play that ot like you wanted to win... they looked like they had a 1 goal lead and were trying to hold on

[iceycup]

...

[Laserman]

That sucks, but we did our best with what we had!!!

[rangerbill94]

You guys should have gotten a better break, but it was a great season. THANKS!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

it's over ...

we couldn't get in their zone ... and that's it ... it sucks x a million ...

I really HATE the Penguins ... I didn't hate them before ... but I hate them now ... and I am going to look forward to their asses getting royally kicked by the Flyers ...

[pj]

The level of sadness is hard to describe. Turned the tv off the minute the goal was scored. Can not believe the season is over. I have a pit in my stomach. Wish I didn't care so much.

[Nick]

Great season...we'll be back next year!

[BLAZE]

offsides...no?

[Laserman]

Anyone who thinks we should stay with the D we have now should have their heads examined!!!

[Jed Orts]

dupuis offsides??

[Godot]

Sad. Angry. Would love to hear about the ruling re: the missed high stick. But would it have mattered the way the pp failed???

[rangerbill94]

I think the play was offsides, BTW.

[Chris]

Microcosm of the season. Power play didn't work. Reffing sucked. Its unfathomable that a high stick to Drury that draws blood goes uncalled, but a high stick by Drury does get called giving the Pens all the mo in the OT. Couldn't score enough goals. This new NHL makes we want to puke. I doubt I will come back for another season.

[Indy Rangers Fan]

One of the positives to look at was that the Atlantic is the toughest division in the NHL... period.... 4 out of 5 made the playoffs, 2 to the conference finals... rangers played with heart despite what the NHL wanted them to do which was roll over and die and let sid the sh*t get his cup. i hate the flyers, but i hope they steamroll pittsburgh.

[mshiver77]

Damn ... seez. I really didn't want it to end today. I certainly didn't want the decider to be a parade of crappy calls. I mean ... man. Just, man!!

Since the break, this team played like they could hang with anybody. The core looks great. Decisions to make in the offseason, but thanks for a great show, guys. Go Blue.

[ant]

it was a good run.WILL BE BACK NEXT SEASON BETTER AND STRONGER

LETS GO RANGERS

"STANDING OVIATION"

[BLAZE]

Eddie O just said it was offsides.

[H.C.]

BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

[BLAZE]

yup...just watched the replay 4 times. OFFSIDES!!!!!!!!!

[Jed Orts]

who tried the kick the puck like a soccer ball on that last goal?

[TheDaz]

Girardi kicked it.

Lots of promise for next season.... as long as Jagr comes back, and they upgrade the D.

[Indy Rangers Fan]

where are you seeing the replay???

[ntb]

Congrats on a good season NY Rangers. You did much better than my pre-season expectations.

I don't think there will be major changes this off-season, (which is unfortunate on D), but there just isn't that much in terms of quality FAs.

Oh well, time to root for the Red Wings.

[Laserman]

It just pisses me off how certain teams get to play against their opponents, and the officials. I just looked at the replay 4 times and I'd say it was offsides. No matter though we still played weak our own end, and the finish was inevitable...

[rangerbill94]

The kick of the puck was not the problem, Prucha failed to handle the puck on the halfboars in the Pens zone. That started the breakout.

[Dill_Pickleson]

It sure looked like Rozsival pushed Malone's stick into Drury's face....

[ant]

lets go flyers

[Laserman]

Thats what I saw as well RB94...

[iceycup]

oh well, thanks to all for great posts and a great website.

here's to hoping that some SERIOUS ----ing changes are made in the off season.

[Laserman]

Still looked offsides though!!!

[Matty *I Believe*]

Well it will take a while to get over this one ...

Penguins shut Jagr down tonight and while our rookies stepped up and Henrik stepped up, our other vets didn't really do much ...

EddieO says that Jagr told him that he wants to play 4 more years in the NHL and that his first choice is NY but that he is going through some family issues back in the Czech Republic ... so we will see ... we have a loooooooooooooooooooong summer to get it all sorted out ...

I am SO very PROUD of them ... they could've given up down 3-0 ... they refused to get swept at home ... they could've given up down 2-0 in this game but they fought back and tied it at 2 ... they could've packed it in faced with a 4 minute PK but they didn't ...

I am very proud of this team and while our team is imperfect(the PP, the lack of D who hit the net on shots, the lack of size on the wing) I think that we continue the team's growing pains and because 40% of our boys are homegrown I am ready and willing to see them go through this ...

A lot of the haters who disappeared when we started winning and started to trickle back already will now come here and claim that they were right, that the entire coaching staff and team need sto be purged ... that's fine but their opinions mean zero to me because they didn't have the guts to post here when the team was winning ...

Out of our FA's I want Jagr and Mara back ... I am undecided on Straks only because I think he played hurt all year can he recover and be better? Roszie ... I really do not want him back ... Shanny if he wasn't hurt coming down the stretch then it's time for the classy Irishman to hang them up ... unless he pulls a Neidermeyer and takes half the season off ...

[Mark W.]

No possession at all in OT, just like the Devils loss

Tip the hat to Henrik, we'd have been blown out if not for him.

Tip the hat to PIT, they were better but our boys showed heart, can't take that away.

Can't wait for October so we can do this again

[NYRanger4Life]

We have a lot to proud of and look forward to as NY Rangers fans. The foundation of this team will remain intact (Dubi, Hank, Gomer, Staal, Drury) for the years to come, and I believe Renney is the right coach for this crew.

What a season!

guys get off the officials they did NOT cost the rangers this game. the rangers cost the