The Mind Boggles

I'd like to bring to your attention today two startling statistics. The first, posted yesterday by one of our commenters, is that, after 22 games, the Rangers have given up just eight goals while shorthanded but have allowed seven shorthanded goals while on the power play. Just one goal more down a man than up a man. To quote a scientist from the cheesy 1950's sci-fi movie The Thing, "The mind boggles!"

Then there is this: Since the start of the season, we get about 700 hits a day at Blueshirt Bulletin+, which makes sense since that is roughly equal to the number of subscribers who have signed up for access. Meanwhile, here at BlueshirtBulletin.com, where there are only my personal musings, bits of news that are found elsewhere, and a daily compendium of links, we average 7,000 visitors a day.

In other words, only 10% of our readers here subscribe to BB+ and the print publication, even though that's where all of our exclusive material appears. If we had just another 10% of those people subscribing, our future would be secure and we could provide even better coverage of the Rangers. Yet that many thousands of fans who take the time to come here to read things that are easily available anywhere choose not to subscribe, for a mere $2.50 per month (less with multi-year subscription discounts), to the material we make available to subscribers that cannot be found anywhere else.

We've posted 15,000 words at BB+ in the past month, and probably 10,000 of those words came out of the mouths of the coach and the players. Here are some of the things they've said in that time that we think are of great interest to serious Ranger fans that we reported at BB+ (and some of which get incorporated into articles in the monthly magazine) that were not, except in a couple of rare instances (and then only in part), reported anywhere else:

Asked why the players were falling back into a passive 1-2-2 defense instead of forechecking Vancouver, Tom Renney said, "That was their choice, not mine." He also said, "It camouflages some of the bad things that you've done when you get a win. When you get your lunch handed to you, it's black and white." About the lengthy post-game meeting, he said: "You can go in there and rip 'em, and throw things around -- sometimes that's what's required. The garbage can was still upright when you went in, so that didn't happen.”

"Too many open looks, breakaways, three in the first ten minutes," Drury said. "Hank's bailed us out of some tough spots, 1-0, 2-0 leads where he makes an unbelievable save so that it doesn't go to 3-0, and we're able to claw back." On the shorthanded goals, really telling and quoted in part by only one other reporter: "They're pressuring all over the place looking for chances. You can see it in their body language, in their eyes -- they're looking to attack when they're shorthanded."

Dubinsky after the prior game: "We have to find a way to practice what we preach or else it's gonna come back to haunt us, it's gonna bite us in the ass. We gotta do it now -- I don't want to say it, but we don't want to put ourselves in this position again and not get the job done and have that be the wake-up call. We gotta understand that this is the wake-up call." And on Ruutu: "I can have words with anybody, I can talk with the best of them, but he's not gonna get under my skin and make me play any different. We want to keep away from him, let him run his mouth and be ineffective."

After that same game, Renney said this about benching players: "As you do those type of things, at least they recognize you're trying to do what you can [as a coach] to win the hockey game." And he said this about how the Rangers practice: "We like to condition skate -- our level of fitness is huge to us. We have to spend a lot of time doing drills that allow pace and tempo. In some cases it's at the expense of teaching and reviewing things." Not a valuable enough quote to make a newspaper, but the kind of thing we’ll never pass up at Blueshirt Bulletin.

Did you wonder why Ruutu and Vermette took the shootout instead of Alfredsson and Heatley? I asked Redden -- and I was the only person to ask him -- if that was the norm when he was in Ottawa, and he said that Vermette always participated in the shootout and occasionally Dean McAmmond too instead of Alfredsson and Heatley. As for Ruutu, even though they were not teammates, Redden said that he took a number of shootouts in Pittsburgh, so he wasn't surprised to see him out there.

"I got a lot of confidence from that trip," Korpikoski said of his recent stint in the minors. "Of course playing a lot, playing on the power play, being the go-to guy. I'm trying to transfer it to here -- obviously my role is not the same as there, but that's normal, I'm a young player still. Every shift is a gift, you have to make the best of it.” He said more, but you won’t read about it anyplace else because I was the only one talking to him. You could read it at BB+ now and it will be in the next issue of Blueshirt Bulletin.

Renney said of Korpi’s line: "They deserved the opportunity. As much as them guys never want to get sent someplace they don't want to go, they're going to do everything they possibly can to get the job done properly and work hard at it. That line was ripe for the opportunity on the power play and ripe to help us get back into the game."

When the Rangers played a terrible first period in Jersey and then came out blazing in the second, one wondered what happened during intermission. "There was no yelling and screaming," Naslund said. "It was more, 'We gotta keep doing the right things and things will come.'" Drury, Mara, and Renney told us pretty much the same thing. Drury also said of the penalty killing, "We're definitely a team that uses kills as momentum." And Mara said of the power play: "Our real objective is to get to the point and get shots and get traffic in front of the goalie. That's how you score in this league."

Rozsival scored in that game after a lot of passing between him and Mara, something that infuriates fans. He explained: "We moved the puck quite a bit on that power play trying to set up a good shot. They seemed to line up real well [in the shooting lanes]. But when I took my shot, I was able to shoot it around the guy in front of me, and he created a little bit of a screen." Here’s Drury with some candor about the next power play goal: "The first unit was out there, my unit, we kind of batted it around a bit. Then the other unit went out and did a great job. Five on three if you don't score, it could swing momentum the other way."

Renney on what happened during another game after a slow start: "Tonight I didn't go in [the locker room] between the first and second period, I didn't go in between the second and third. They made a decision [on their own] and however they chose to deal with it. It doesn't always have to come from me." We can go on and on -- Drury on power play adjustments the coaches made, Voros on his battle with an opposing goalie, Renney on Zherdev’s overhandling the puck ("It's like a cat with a mouse -- they just like to just play with it for a little while."), and Rozsival blaming himself for a loss and explaining his mistakes in detail even after the coach partially exonerated him.

Dan Fritsche explained how Zherdev is different now than he was in Columbus in an exclusive conversation with me, coming to these conclusions: "That might not have been the fact every game in Columbus, but he's proven a lot of people wrong so far... Most of us live on the west side, we're always out together and Nikky's always with us. I personally didn't see that in Columbus last year." There was a lot more to what he said that appeared immediately at BB+ and is now part of an article on Zherdev in the current issue of Blueshirt Bulletin.

When the Rangers beat Pittsburgh in a shootout, only one other reporter picked up on Lundqvist saying of Crosby, "Usually you face the best players on the other team, so you have to have your A game. He's a great player, but I don't think he's the best shootout guy." Or Sjostrom describing what happened after his pal Lundqvist made a highlight reel save on a shot he deflected that would have cost the Rangers the game: "Yesterday against Columbus, two incidents where I went out and blocked shots, tipped and he barely made the saves.So right after the play, we smiled at each other -- [I don't know] if he was smiling happy thoughts at me or not, he made a great save."

And no one else quoted an angry Renney after the loss to Dallas saying, "We were stupid. We're trying to make the big play, do the extraordinary thing instead of doing the less extraordinary thing -- working." Or describing how to make a play off a rebound: "You shoot for the pillows -- that's a pretty good pass more often than not. We're trying to pick corners and be precise -- one of the best passes in hockey is when it comes off the goaltender's pads." And Gomez's classic response when he was asked what adjustment the team needed to make: “We missed a lot of shots -- our adjustment would be to hit the net." And then making fun of my shirt.

We also post exclusive photos at BB+, like the one accompanying this posting from yesterday that may help explain why the Ranger point men give up so many shorthanded breakaways to the other team (click on the image to see a larger version). And this doesn't even cover the exclusive material that we publish in print, like personal interviews with Ranger players and in-depth interviews with Ranger prospects, among other things. For just $2.50 a month -- less with multi-year discounts. As that mad scientist said, "The mind boggles."

In the news today, Steve Valiquette is slated to start tomorrow night in Ottawa and Gomez is skating again, according to Rangers Report, Ranger Rants, and Blue Notes (all of whom, by the way, contribute regularly to Blueshirt Bulletin). More on the Rangers in Slap Shot and the Post. Prospect Park has an update on the Russia-Canada junior series that a couple of Ranger prospects are participating in, with Evgeny Grachev named the player of the game last night. ESPN lists Henrik Lundqvist as a Hart candidate, grades the Rangers B+ in a quarter-pole assessment, and renews Renney's standing as a proven coach in their head coach ranking. Rangers Report also has an update on Brendan Shanahan.

Comments

[NYRanger4Life]

(i'd like to preface this comment by saying that I have no affiliation whatsoever with BB)

I've been a subscriber to BB+ for about a year, and I can tell you that it is DEFINITELY worth the price. If you visit this site daily like I do, the least you can do is show your support by signing up for the premium service. Dubi & company devote endless hours for our Rangers addiction --- and without they probably could not continue....

[Mike]

stop bitching and insulting us with ur rant about bb+. be happy that people actually come here to read for free.

[Ant]

^^^^^^^
AAAAAAAAAAAAASSHOLE AAAAAAAAAASSHOLE AAAAAAAAASSHOLE AAAAAAAAAAASSHOLE AAAAAAAAAAASSHOLE

[jagrmiester]

propaganda

[Brett]

Mike,
Let me start by telling you that you are a complete stain-blaster. Let us examine what you wrote. "be happy that people actually come here to read for free." Firstly I would like to state for the record that you are obviously brilliant. Secondly, Dubi is producing a product. Consider BB a "free sample" and BB+ the product. I will put it in terms you can understand. If bottom feeders such as yourself go to an ice cream shop and continue to ask for a sample of a flavor, you will eventually be expected to buy a serving. Should you not purchase a serving, eventually the free samples will not be offered to you. Thirdly, BB is Dubi's site, and if he decides to throw in a plug for his pay site, he is fully within his rights to do so. If you don't like it, then take out a subscription or find a new site to mooch off of. Lastly, I would like to remind you that you are a tool, and most likely a fair-weather fan. Grow up and don't bother the rest of the BB community with wasted space on the comments section.

[Jive]

I've been with BB+ for a good few months now. Great info, enjoy it thoroughly. I wont blame people for reading for free since it is a public website. However, no need to attack Dubi for trying to sell his product.

Keep up the great coverage.

[zengolfguy]

I've been a subscriber for a couple of years now, and I love the product. I appreciate the effort that Dubi puts into getting us something daily to argue endlesslessly about (Sundin, Rozy, Shanny, Jagr) so it's no probs for him to try and make a freaking living once in a while.

So Mike, quit chewing on those crayolas and let me offer you a big steaming bowl of shutthefuckup with a nice cold glass of bitemyass to wash it down.

[i]

BB is selling a magazine and updated news on the NYR for a fee, plus a free site. If you can't afford the subscription, you can't afford it. But why complain about the owner of this site trying to make a living? Does anyone here work for free?

[Cutter]

Hi, I'm Cutter, and I approve of Brett's message. Well done, Sir.

Everybody do yourself a favor and spring for a subscription to BB. Put it on your Xmas list. Completely worth the price for reportage you don't get anywhere else.

Thanks Dubi!

[joeymole]

my take, i have a subscription to bb and bb+ plus but prefer the 'free' blog to read and comment in. don't like to 'log in' and all that exclusionary stuff, but hey, that's me.

back the rangers, so still no change in the pp management or coaching ranks. so i expect no changes on the ice either. call it 'lowered expectations' i suppose. if slats can't make an immediate impact on the chain of command then what the heck is he doing these days? daily calls to matts? wagering on-line? perusing his favorite nyc cigar shops? who knows, but i do hold him ultimately responsible for the woeful pp.

sens lost another close game last night to habs. they'll be unusually ornery tomorrow. expecting some nastiness early on. rangers better double up on their caffeine intake before tomorrow's early game. another late start won't cut it, i'm expecting the sens to come out hard and fast for hometown fans and media. hope rangers can do the same!

[Jess]

Folks

Really truly appreciate the support but we do have kids coming on here so can we please not act like Mike and watch our choice of words please.

As for Mike congrats you got your 10 seconds of fame and now will become an afterthought thanks to the folks who help Dubi (and myself as well as the other Blueshirt Bulletin sites) keep our heads above water.

Nobody is looking to get rich doing this but when you folks subscribe then someone like me can afford a trip to the NHL draft.

We are all a team in this effort, your subscriptions becomes the coverage you the Ranger fan want.

Thanks

[MB RangerFan]

Perhaps a premium membership to BB+ could be purchased without actually buying the Bulletin itself. In Canada, it is closer to $5 a month due to higher shipping and exchange rates. I would be interested in a BB+ only rate, and am sure many others would be as well.

Just a thought.....

[seme]

Dubi, you're forgetting those of us who check BB religiously, multiple times a day XD Or are these 7,000 unique visitors? If all BB subscribers are as nuts when the hockey season starts as me, I'd say it's a fair bet that 10% number is pretty skewed.

[Marco]

Matias Ohlund... on this team... now !

[oleosmirf]

with afinegenov struggling I wonder if the Rangers could trade Prucha straight up for him. Prucha has no future on this team and Afinigenov could use a change of scenery so it couldnt hurt to try.

[bdubs]

It would be cool to see Afingenov play with zherdev but i dont think we have the cap space

[Jameson]

bdubs,
Speed like that together on one line usually doesn't agree.

[tbassler]

I just bought a two year subscription this summer and I must say it is definitely worth it. I wasted more money than that last night at the bar.

I love your coverage, and have to come here first everyday to find the Ranger news and links.

Thanks.

Hopefully Gomez will skate today and add that missing spark.

[rangerbill94]

I don't live in NY so my support of the team is done through NHL CenterIce and BB+. I figure if I were in NY I'd go to 2-3 games a year. That's about $120-$150. I spend that on the center ice package and the subscription. Fans should support their team, so if I can't be there then I do the best I can to bring it to me. Fans need to "step up" as well as the players do.