Rangers the favorites in the East?

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Rangers General Manager Glen Sather made the move that all the Rangers fans wanted to see this off-season, an elite scorer in a Rangers sweater. 

With the acquisition of Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Rangers bulked up an offense that was less than stellar last season. The cost to bring Nash to the Rangers was Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a first round draft pick. 

Dubinsky was a fan favorite and could spark the Rangers with his speed and energy. Unfortunately Dubinsky had one of his worst offensive seasons scoring only 10 goals and recording 34 points for the year. Dubinsky's playoff performance was not much different. Dubi failed to find the back of the net and tallied only two assists in nine games. 

Artem Anisimov was a consistent third or fourth liner who put up respectable numbers for the Rangers. Anisimov netted 10 goals and recorded 30 assists in 79 games for the Blueshirts. 

As hard as it is to see these two players leave, it was obvious the Rangers offense needed serious help, especially the power play. 

Last season, Nash posted 30 goals and 59 points for the NHL worst Blue Jackets. Nash has scored 40 or more goals twice, and has scored 30 or more seven times. 

With Nash on Broadway, it is hard to believe that the Rangers are not the favorite coming out of the Eastern Conference in the 2012-13 season. The Blueshirts are coming off a remarkable season that ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, somewhere no one thought they would be at the beginning. 

Adding a 30 plus goal scorer to a roster with players like Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, and Ryan Callahan, has made the Rangers offense lethal instead of lacking. 

Of course there are teams in the East that can be considered favorites like the Pittsburgh Penguins, barring any injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and the Boston Bruins. The Philadelphia Flyers have suffered severely along the blue line, and could not land Nashville's Shea Weber when the Predators matched their offer sheet. The New Jersey Devils saw their captain Zach Parise leave for Minnesota during free agency, and were content just to re-sign their young talent, and Martin Brodeur is 40 year old goaltender. 

The Rangers seem to have found the missing piece that would make them a complete team, and a team that can make a Stanley Cup run. The added offense will help take the pressure off of Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist, and will not force Hank to make highlight reel saves game after game. 

The Rangers are a well balanced team that have already shown that they can shut teams down with their defense, and now added the necessary offense to make them a favorite to repeat as Atlantic Division Champions, and the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Rangers Top 10 Moments of 2011-2012 Season

The New York Rangers enjoyed their finest season since their championship season in 1993-94. Their season unfortunately ended in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hand of the division rival New Jersey Devils.

There was still plenty of great moments for the Rangers this season, and here are the top ten moments.

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10. Gaborik gets OT winner against Florida (Jan 5, 2012)

With former President Bill Clinton in attendance, Marian Gaborik sent the Garden faithful into a euphoric state when he blasted a shot from the slot by Florida goaltender Scott Clemmensen. The game winner gave the Rangers a 3-2 victory, and their third win in a row.

9. Rangers score four in the second to beat Pittsburgh (November 29, 2011)


The Rangers erased a 1-0 deficit in the second period with a four goal barrage. Ryan Callahan tied the game eight minutes into the second with a power play goal. John Mitchell and Brad Richards scored ninety seconds apart to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead, and Marian Gaborik added another power play goal with less than minutes left in the second period. The win was the Rangers seventh win in a row at home.

8. Richards beats Coyotes with 0.1 seconds left (December 17, 2011) 


Just when the game looked like it was headed to overtime, Brad Richards spun a backhand shot that deflected off of Keith Yandle's stick and passed goaltender Mike Smith. The goal was originally disallowed by the refs who said time had expired, but after review the puck crossed the line with 0.1 seconds left, and the Rangers won 3-2.

7. Richards scores game-winning goal in Winter Classic (January 2, 2012)


In a much anticipated match-up between the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers in the Winter Classic, the two teams did not fail to entertain. The Flyers jumped ahead 2-0 in the second period, but the Rangers came back to tie the game, and five minutes into the third period, Brad Richards buried a rebound opportunity to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead and victory.

6. Lundqvist stops Briere on penalty shot (January 2, 2012) 


Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was in the spotlight all season, and he never failed to please Ranger fans, especially with 19 seconds left in the Winter Classic and the Rangers clinging to a 3-2 lead. Ryan McDonagh was penalized for covering the puck with his hand in the Rangers crease. The Flyers were awarded a penalty shot taken by Danny Briere. Lundqvist remained patient while Briere came in, and he stopped Briere's attempt through the five-hole, and kept the Rangers ahead 3-2.

5. Rangers reach 50 wins (March 30, 2012) 


The New York Rangers hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden looking to notch their first 50 win season since the 1993-94 season. The Rangers dominated the Canadiens from start to finish en route to a 4-1 victory. Michael Del Zotto netted two goals in the third period to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead, and Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves for the shutout.

4. Kreider scores first career goal against Ottawa (April 23, 2012) 


Chris Kreider was coming off a National Championship with Boston College when he got the call up from the New York Rangers during their series with the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers were facing elimination in Game 6 and came out with a gutsy 3-2 victory that included Kreider's first career NHL goal. With just under a minute to go in the second period, Kreider beat Ottawa's  Craig Anderson to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead. They went on to beat Ottawa 3-2, and eliminate Ottawa in seven games.

3. Rangers sweep season series from Flyers 


If there was one team the Rangers wanted to see in the playoffs this past season, it was the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers went 6-0 against their division rivals this season, including their exciting 3-2 win over the Flyers in the Winter Classic. The Blueshirts outscored Philly 24-11 in the season series, and swept the season series from the Flyers for the first time in 40 years.

2. Richards ties game with 6.6 seconds left (May 7, 2012)


The Rangers were on the brink of elimination against the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Rangers were trailing the Caps 2-1 late in the third period. Joel Ward of Washington took a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Carl Hagelin. The Rangers pulled goalie Henrik Lundqvist for a two-man advantage and with 6.6 seconds left on the clock, Brad Richards poked the puck passed Caps goalie Braden Hotby off the post and in. The Rangers stayed on the power play into overtime where Marc Staal fired a shot from the point passed Holtby for the victory. The Rangers went up 3-2 in the series and defeated the Caps in seven games.

1. Lundqvist wins the Vezina Trophy 


Henrik Lundqvist dazzled between the pipes this season for the Rangers,and this year it earned him the Vezina Trophy, given to the top goaltender in the league. Lundqvist was at the top of the league in almost every category. Lundqvist posted 39 wins including 8 shutouts. He also boasted a .930 save percentage with a 1.97 goals against average. It was no surprise to the fans that Lundqvist brought home the hardware this year, he was one of the main reasons the Rangers achieved so much success this season. Lundqvist was also up for the Hart Trophy, given to the league MVP.

My Blue Heaven in Game Seven

The New York Rangers have been pushed to the limit in both series this postseason, and both times they have answered with a victory.

The Rangers were coming off a bad loss in Game 6 to the Washington Capitals, where they were beaten in every phase of the game. The pressure was all on the blueshirts to win on home ice,  while the Caps were playing with house money. There is no doubt there was a nervous feel in the crowd hidden by the chants of Let's Go Rangers, but the Garden faithful gave the Rangers all they had.

Brad Richards opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, when he blasted a pass from Carl Hagelin by the glove of goaltender Braden Holtby.

The Rangers and Capitals played a scoreless second period, with both teams getting chances, but the defense was stellar.

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In the third period, Michael Del Zotto followed Marian Gaborik's blocked shot, and snapped a shot by the  stick of Holtby, and the Rangers grabbed a crucial two goal lead.

Less than one minute later, Roman Hamerlik threw a floater towards Henrik Lundqvist, and the puck found the back of the net. Lundqvist was screened, and did not see the puck until it was too late, and the Rangers lead was cut to one. The fans immediately supported Lundqvist after he gave up the fluke goal by chanting "Henrik!".

Later in the third period, Brian Boyle drove to the net with the puck, and was taken down by a Caps defenseman. The puck looked to have crossed the line before the referee blew the whistle, but the ref called the goal off with no review.

The Caps desperately tried to put the pressure on the Rangers defense, but Lundqvist and the Rangers did not break, and held on for 2-1 win.

Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves, and will play in his first Conference Finals is his career. Carl Hagelin assisted on both Ranger goals, and played his best game of the series, and maybe the playoffs.

The Rangers are now 5-0 in Game 7's at home, and 2-0 in Game 7's at home this postseason.

The Rangers will face the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night at 8 pm at Madison Square Garden.

Another Must Win Game for Rangers

The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals are tied 2-2 in this Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Caps took Game 4 3-2 on a late power play goal by Mike Green.

The Rangers return home tonight for Game 5 in what has turned into a must win game for the Rangers, much like their previous series with the Ottawa Senators.

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The Rangers need a fast start offensively in Game 5. They came out flat in the first period of Game 4 and went down 1-0 after one period. They played come from behind hockey the entire game and ended up losing late in the third. The first goal is pivotal in this series. The team that has scored first has won every game so far this series.

Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards have both been the players they were expected to be this series, and Artem Anisimov has been a surprise with two goals.In this tight defensive series, these players will have to take advantage of the few chances they get.

The Rangers will expect their fans to as loud as the previous games, and give the Rangers a real home ice advantage. The Rangers do not want to go back to Washington down 3-2 in the series. They have shown they can come back from a 3-2 deficit, but being up 3-2 in the series is a much better position to be in.

Last Night's Triple OT Winner

Watch it again as Gaborik scores in triple overtime to beat the Washington Capitals and give the Rangers a 2-1 series lead

Gaborik Cashes In

If there was ever a time for Marion Gaborik to score in the playoffs, he picked the best time to do it. Gaborik beat Capitals goalie Braden Holtby with just over five minutes to go in the third overtime, and give the Rangers a 2-1 series lead.

Game 2 was a game of golden chances for both sides, and a game of world class saves for the goaltenders. Ryan Callahan opened the scoring with a power play goal seven minutes into the second period, but John Carlson tied it up less than five minutes later.

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In overtime Alexander Ovechkin had a chance to win the game but hit the far post, and did not see any chances after that. The New York Rangers played their brand of hockey in the overtimes, and won the way they have all season, with a team effort. Although Gaborik netted the game winner, the Rangers sold out all game and gave up their bodies to block shots and make plays.

Great team plays beat talent every day, and the Rangers are the best example why. Maybe the Knicks should go to a Ranger game or two. #teamb4me