Get ready Aaron Voros, Donald Brashear, Michal Rozsival, and company. You're all in the lineup tonight despite any real efforts that earned you that spot.
Instead, Ales Kotalik and Wade Redden will be tonight's scapegoats in order to prove a "major" point.
Really?
Yes. Both players have struggled, but when does accountability fall on those with the names listed above?
Enforcement and leadership is only good if it's equitable and thus far this season, it has not be.
Just ask Enver Lisin.
For more on this analsysis, visit BlueshirtBulletinPlus.com.
But the Rangers still have to saddle up and try to redeem themselves at Nassau Coliseum tonight, not an easy task.
There were rumors and rumblings about possible organizational changes if the Rangers fall tonight, but there is no certainty to that. In reality, this group will probably continue and flounder, riding the playoff bubble, for the rest of this season with pretty much this mix of players.
What you see is what you get.
And the Islanders are the perfect paradigm. A team with nothing but youth and a couple wiley veterans exhibit seemingly endless passion and heart. The Rangers have some youth, but a lot of underachieving veterans and no sense of passion, desire, or urgency.
With the loose exceptions of Sean Avery, Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, Henrik Lundqvist, and Mike Del Zotto, there is no Ranger who seems angry (let alone enraged) about their play. Not once did any Ranger step up last night and try to mix it up.
Isn't that what players like Brashear are for?
Liberties are taken on Lundqvist, there is no physical play, and opponents are simply allowed to skate around untouched.
This team is disinterested.
With a few hours until the drop of the puck, it will be interesting to see how the group responds.
If they respond.
