8-6-1: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Two teams stepped onto the MSG ice last night. One was playing on their home ice, carrying a 4-0-1 streak after a day off. The other had a 4-0 streak, playing less than 24 hours after a physical win in Carolina. Neither team played particularly well, but one appeared utterly exhausted and lifeless. Yep that one was the Rangers.

The Blueshirts sleepskated through one of the dullest affairs in recent history, a boring game largely devoid of displays of skill or physicality. For two Original Six teams, there was no sign of any rivalry in this one but - like the vast majority of their matches over the last 86 seasons - Montreal ended up on top. The Habs came from behind to beat the Hab-nots 3-1, helped by the one guy who played like he wanted to be there: Brandon Prust.

Pruster threw his body around, checking his former teammates and blocking their shots. He played at even strength, on the power play and (of course) shorthanded. And he had a big hand in the game-winning goal, making a brilliant backhanded pass across the slot to untouched rookie Alex Galchenyuk. It was a triumphant return for the former Ranger, as he showed his old team exactly what they were missing.

It is long past time to lament the loss of Sean Avery, who became persona non grata the second John Tortorella was mistakenly hired. The team went on without him and still had sparkplugs in Cally, Dubi, Fedotenko and Prust. Three of those four are now gone and their replacements on the roster could not get anything going last night. Pyatt was tightly checked, Miller was invisible and Asham was utterly ineffective (as per usual).

The Blueshirts have won most of their games this season because of their skill, not their grit - a reversal from last year. But when the Richard$ plays piss poorly, Gabby allows himself to be marginalized and Rick Nash doesn't even bother to show up, the grit guys have to pick up the slack and that did not happen. More of the current crew need to learn that "it's just pain" and play their hardest.

A few Late Hits:

*Maybe they should re-paint the red line green, because the Rangers concede passage into their own end every rush. Where is the forecheck?

*After being utterly delighted by a perfect power play goal on Sunday the man advantage regressed back to its utterly awful self. Normally a team down 2-1 in the third period that gets a power play would get a chance to tie things up. For the Rangers it only brought them two minutes closer to the final buzzer.

*Mentioned Pruster's pretty feed before but credit is due to Step's stellar set-up - he threaded the puck under the defenseman's stick right to Stralman for the slam dunk.

*The game-tying goal was thanks to Del Zaster. He allowed his man to get behind him and turned to watch the play. McD had to skate over to try to clear the Canadien from the crease and, timing being every thing, he screened Hank. DZ's utter lack of defensive ability strikes again.

*Boyle has come out of the gates strong the last two games but is still not a good hockey player. The majority of his hits don't achieve anything and he still avoids screening the goaltender.

*Had hoped to see more from Mashinter but he was shackled with Asham on his line so it is of little surprise he saw little ice time and was unable to do anything with it.

*PHW Three Stars:
3-Carl Hagelin - one assist.
2-Carey Price - 24 saves.
1-Alex Galchenyuk - one goal.

Scotty Hockey Three Stars:
3-Step - The kid is picking up some of the slack as Richard$ skates around collecting his paycheque.
2-Galchenyuk - Young American clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
1-Prust - He had a point to prove and he did just that. 

The Saddest Hockey Card Of All Time?

I was looking around the evil eBay today and came across this card. I have it at home and must say that it is heartbreaking to look at. It is the 1975-76 O Pee Chee card of Eddie Giacomin with the traumatic note that he was "Sold to Detroit Oct. 31". Of note, the Topps version does not have the update.

In the Legends Of Hockey series, Giacomin and the Cat re-told the story of that direful deal and Eddie's emotional return the next game. Sure it saddens up your Sunday but it shows just how great Ranger fans are.

Side note: if you guys are interested, I can do more pieces like this about cards, jerseys or other Ranger memorabilia - I have a decent collection. Just let me know.

Once A Ranger, Always A Ranger

New York Ranger Clint Smith passed away earlier this week. The last surviving player from the 1940 Cup champs survives no more, and the franchise is poorer for having lost him.

Back in 1994, as the Rangers were making the run for the Cup, Smith gave Neil Smith his jersey and other old souvenirs. The NY Times' description of the occasion had this pearl:

Neil Smith said he would give the mementos a place of honor in Madison Square Garden. Clint Smith seemed to think that would be just fine. A slightly built man with white hair and bright eyes, Clint said he would continue to follow the fortunes of the team closely.

"Once a Ranger," he explained, "always a Ranger."

If only the current crop of Blueshirts could understand that, and take pride in it. For a glance at who Smith was, check out his Ranger page for stats, and his Legends of Hockey spotlight for stories. I just hope that - as his passing comes at this time of year - the team still remembers and recognizes him at the season opener. That they didn't hold a moment of silence for Alf Pike still makes me ill, as does the way they handled Cherry's passing online.

RIP Clint.

Congrats Corey!

Lost in the headlines today that Chris Chelios gave Father Time the finger again and Florida locked up their No. 3 defenseman for six more years, was the news that Corey Hirsch was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the their goaltending coach.

Hirsch, who was most famously posterized - or should I say stamped? - by Peter Forsberg in the '94 Olympics, is also a former Ranger. He was initially pegged as the goaltender of the future by the Blueshirts but they had that Mike Richter guy and the coaches wanted an experienced back-up.

Hirsch was dealt to the Canucks for Nathan Lafayette, who subsequently played 25 games as a Ranger and had zero points. Hirsch went on to rack up frequent flier miles over the next 10 years playing for Syracuse, Milwaukee, Utah, Albany, Cincinnati, Portland, Philadelphia (AHL), Dallas, Washington, Timra and Kassel. Well, it just goes to show that teams wanted him and saw something there worth paying for.

Now he is in Toronto where he will get to work with the Leafs prospects as well as Vesa Toskala. Hopefully in their relationship Hirsch learns a thing or two from his pupil, who was lucky enough to learn under the great Warren Strelow. Through all of his travels, Hirsch learned what it to be a professional and that is some knowledge that the woeful Leafs certainly could use ... Best of luck to him.

Congrats Mike!

Former Ranger Mike Gartner will have his number retired. Not by the Rangers, don't worry, but by the team he broke into the NHL with and spent nearly 10 seasons - the Washington Capitals. Gartner was a classy, fantastically skilled player and one of the best skaters in the history of the NHL. He also was great for the league in his post-playing career before leaving amid the Ted Saskin controversy.

All told he played 351 games for the Rangers, racking up 312 points before being unceremoniously dumped for Messier's boyfriend Glenn Anderson under the pretense that Gartner's playoff inexperience would hurt the Rangers. As you can guess, I disagree - the Gartner was a clear-cut Hall of Famer while Anderson likely would not have made it in if not for a weak year of candidates. But what's done is done; at least Gartner is being honoured by one of his former teams. He deserves it.