30-22-6: Sleeping In St. Louis

The Rangers celebrated Blair Betts' birthday by getting beaten 2-1 by a last place team. Nice work guys. The Blueshirts can't score and a defensive breakdown allowed a harder-working but less-skilled team to net the game-winning past Hank, who actually played pretty well. It wasn't a blowout, it wasn't a bad effort, it just wasn't a win against a team they needed to beat.

As for a statement ... well, it doesn't bode well for the stretch run. Two seasons ago Sean Avery came to the Rangers just in time to turn the season around with a shootout win against the Blues. This time there was no Avery, no heart, no win.

Playing the blame game, a just look at the usual suspects. Tom Renney had the completely useless Wade Redden on the ice for power plays and for the pivotal final seconds - moer than 24 minutes in total. Scott Gomez didn't do much of anything. Rozy's tendency to turn the puck over struck again (but luckily didn't end up in the back of the net). Nik Zherdev has more skill then anyone else on the ice but he couldn't use it to get a single good scoring chance. Chris Drury had a few good chances but after taking all of the blame after Philly, he couldn't stop his teammates from sleepskating through this one. And Glen Sather brought all of these idiots to Broadway.

Ah well, there is always Wednesday against the Isles ... a loss there - no matter how close - will cause havoc.

*Since the Rangers pissed on Bettsy's birthday, the least they can do is give the guy a new contract. He played a solid game, as did his linemates and Ryan Callahan. That foursome have been the only constants this season and they deserve kudos.

*I rip on Joe Micheletti constantly but as much as he is unlistenable, at least MSG is watchable. Versus, notsomuch. The camerawork was outright horrible and the director made bad call after bad call. I nearly got motion sickness as the main game-cam tried to jerk back and forth while poorly tracking the puck - perhaps if he had loosened the shot up a bit, he wouldn't have to swing like that. And the director changed shots at bad times, missing plenty of action.

*However, all credit given and due to the production staff to get an interview with John Davidson. There is just something right with listening to JD while the Rangers are playing ... granted, he did have a slip of the tongue and say that the Blues 'have 10 or 12 young people that they need to get to the Rangers.' Oops, but sure, we could use more good young players since our older folks aren't faring particularly well.

*Now, I said that Renney is here for the long haul in a Puck Daddy roundtable, but what the hell? He uses his timeout in the second period of a 0-0 game, but he doesn't use it when Philadelphia scores two goals in a minute. And whatever stellar game-plan that he detailed during the break failed on the ensuing faceoff and allowed the Blues to get traffic in front of the net that they used to screen Hank for their first goal. Genius.

*And the thing was that I turned to my dad and said that the Blues were going to score within two minutes of Aaron Voros getting his ass kicked. How the smaller Cam Janssen used him as a punching bag and energized St. Louis was yet another abomination in this season of horrors. Voros can't score, can't skate, can't stickhandle, can't play defense, can't fight. Glen Sather already rectified his mistakes with Rissmiller and Fritsche, it is time to cut ties with Voros too.

*That being said, Nigel Dawes wasn't missed.

*A quick look at the good and the bad and the ugly of tonight's Ranger power play:

Good - No shorthanded goals against.
Bad - Still no goals for.
Ugly - With Jay McClemment without a stick during the second Ranger power play, the Blueshirts didn't take advantage and couldn't get a shot on goal.

*There is nothing ugly about those third jerseys the Blues were wearing. Absolutely gorgeous sweaters and hopefully they will use them as their primaries next season.

*I guess nice sweaters don't draw fans, as the building looked half empty. I thought the Rangers were one of the biggest draws in the league? Oh yeah, the Philly game yesterday was a national broadcast ...

*Great shot by Korpikoski on the lone Ranger goal. Grip it and rip it - what a concept. And yet he still saw just 8:36 of ice time. Another loss or two and hopefully this team will become a seller at the trade deadline. Perhaps then someone will take Naslund so Korpikoski or another one of the kids can actually get on the ice. But I wouldn't bet on it.

*Dubi played his best game in a while. It didn't result in a goal, but small steps, small steps ...

*PHW Three Stars
3-Henrik Lundqvist - 31 saves.
2-B.J. Crombeen - one goal.
1-Chris Mason - 19 saves.

Scotty Hockey Three Stars
3-Hank - A solid rebound of an effort after the Sunday disaster.
2-Barret Jackman - A defensive rock like the Rangers haven't have since Beuk, Jackman put up solid numbers in 23:23, one assist, one hit, three blocked shots and 19 easy saves for Mason.
1-Cam Janssen - The grinning goon beat the living hell out of Voros and woke up his team, completely negating the impact of the solid throttling of Tyson Strachan by Colton Orr.

 30-22-6: Sleeping In St. Louis - A Rangers Midseason Review

The New York Rangers' season has reached its midpoint, and it's time to take stock of where the team stands. With a record of 30-22-6, the Rangers have shown promise, but there have also been moments of frustration. In this article, we'll break down the team's performance, key players, and address some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Rangers' 2023 season.

Performance at the Midpoint

As the Rangers hit the 58-game mark, they find themselves in a competitive position in the Eastern Conference. Let's look at some key aspects of their performance:

Offensive Prowess: The Rangers have displayed an exciting offensive game, with players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafrenière contributing significantly to the team's scoring.

Defensive Challenges: While the offense has been impressive, the Rangers have faced challenges on the defensive side. Goaltending has been inconsistent, and the team has struggled with defensive zone coverage at times.

Special Teams: The Rangers' power play has been a force to be reckoned with, ranking among the league's best. However, their penalty kill has room for improvement.

Young Talent: The emergence of young players like Lafrenière and Vitali Kravtsov has been a bright spot. They provide depth and energy to the lineup.

Key Players

Artemi Panarin: The "Bread Man" continues to be the Rangers' offensive engine. His playmaking ability and scoring touch make him a crucial player for the team.

Mika Zibanejad: Zibanejad's leadership and offensive skills are invaluable. He's been a consistent contributor and a leader both on and off the ice.

Igor Shesterkin: Despite some ups and downs, Shesterkin remains a promising young goaltender. His ability to steal games has been evident.

Adam Fox: The reigning Norris Trophy winner has continued to excel on the blue line, contributing offensively while being a defensive stalwart.

FAQs About the Rangers' Midseason Performance

1. Can the Rangers make a deep playoff run this year?

It's possible, but they will need to address their defensive issues and maintain offensive consistency. Goaltending will also be a key factor in their playoff success.

2. Are there any trade rumors surrounding the Rangers?

Trade rumors are common in the NHL, and the Rangers are no exception. As the trade deadline approaches, there may be speculation about potential moves to bolster the team.

3. How are the Rangers developing their young talent?

The Rangers have invested in their youth development program, focusing on player development and providing opportunities for young players to grow within the organization.

4. What's the outlook for the rest of the season?

The Rangers have the talent to compete, but consistency will be key. If they can tighten up defensively and maintain their offensive firepower, they can be a formidable playoff contender.

The New York Rangers' 2023 season has been marked by exciting offensive performances and some defensive challenges. As the team reaches the midpoint, they are well within the playoff race, but improvements are needed to make a deep postseason run. With key players like Panarin, Zibanejad, and Shesterkin leading the way, and young talent continuing to develop, there's plenty of reason for optimism among Rangers fans. The second half of the season promises to be filled with exciting hockey and, hopefully, a successful playoff push for the Broadway Blueshirts.