Monday, January 4, 2010

Peepin' Foes: Boston Bruins

The Rangers will get a chance to make a big statement when they kick off a massive week on Monday with a game against the Bruins at the real Garden at 7 p.m. on Versus. Four games in six days starting with the B's, then the Stars and Thrashers back to back followed by the B's again but up in Bahston. Sweep all four, leap up the standings and everyone is happy. Win three and everyone is still pretty happy. Win two with at least one at home and everyone will calm down but not be happier than they are now. Win one, the grumbling continues. Lose all four ... let's not even think about that.

Where We Are: Actually holding a playoff position: the Rangers sit eighth in the East with 43 points, one more than Atlanta and Tampa and two less than Montreal (who have played three more games). But, at the same time they are just 1-5-3 at home in the last nine.

Where They Are: Fifth in the conference with 49 points in 40 games after grabbing two at Fenway. Winners of five of their last six.

Who To Watch For: Given our luck, Milan Lucic should return to the Boston lineup. He came off the IR but decided he wasn't fit enough to play in the Classic. Seeing as Kovy and Ovie both were able to come back juuuuust in time to play in New York, Lucic may as well. The Bruins just signed our old friend Miro Satan and he practiced with them over the weekend but, seeing as he hasn't played a single game all season, he may not be ready to play. Aside from that possible pair, there are still Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Marco Sturm. Oh yeah, and that Chara guy.

What To Watch For: Not a whole helluva lot of scoring; three of the last four games between these two teams finished 1-0 . Boston has no qualms with going hard to the net - as shown in the Fenway game - so you have to see how the Rangers react to a Big Bad presence around Hank. Steve Begin has shown past success against the Rangers when he throws his body around, and fellow teammates Shawn Thornton, Blake Wheeler and Byron Bitz all have the size to punish the undersized Blueshirts as well. If Torts dresses Aaron Voros again, he had better play him more than two minutes...

What We'll (Hopefully) See: A home win. The Rangers not giving up - after getting so many chances and blowing most all of them, it would be easy for them to sit back. Only leadership and pride could stop them from doing it and all too often this season both have been in short supply.

Also Check Out: Hub Hockey, Stanley Cup of Chowder, Cornelius Hardenbergh and the Hockey Blog Adventure and the Boston Globe's Bruins Blog.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd rather see Voros over Brashear.

Chris said...

Agreed... Voros at least hustles and can grind it out. Brashear has 6 fights on the season... SIX. The last one being November 25th.

That is unacceptable for a player who was signed to 'enforce'. All hes been enforcing is the fans hatred for what he did to Betts in last seasons playoffs.

NYR34 said...

What We'll (Hopefully) See Addendum:

Another round of Boyle and Chara battling out in of the Boston crease, looking like some sort of Toho monster movie.

Scotty Hockey said...

Sorry boys, Zipay just posted that Brash is in for Voros ... clearly because Voros was sooooo bad in all two minutes he played in. Have I mentioned lately that I hate our coach? Let's hope that Thornton beats the living hell out of Brash so the goon can be out with injury again.

Chris said...

Its gotten so bad that my wife even knows hes worthless...

Her: 'So what does brashear do? isnt he supposed to fight?'
Me: 'Yep, hes an enforcer'
Her: 'What does he enforce? I havent even seen him hit anyone in forever... did I just miss it?'
Me: 'Nope, you havent missed anything.'
Her: 'So why is he on the team, again?'

Mind you... she only half pays attention in between her celebrity gossip websites, facebook and clothing shopping.

Chris said...

Im taking a poll. Tonight do I...

A: Watch the game on NHL Center ICe, non-HD and see the MSG feed but subject myself to Joe Micheletti

or

B: Watch tehe game in HD on NESN and have to listen to Jack Edwards Homer-ism?

Decisions, decisions...

Anonymous said...

haha, tort's ain't going anywhere scotty! you better find another team to whine and no nothing about!

Scotty Hockey said...

It's know, not no you clown.

Anonymous said...

nah I like the way I say it better, no what I mean?

NYR34 said...

@Chris:
The game is on Versus.

Which means the likely team is Joe Benninati and Andy Brickley.

In other words, only half Boston homer-ism. "So-ah, Mah-co Stuuhm shawt the puck real hahd awn goal".

The other half of fun? FIRES!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

WHAT A WIN