Another Edition

Tentatively, look for The Neutral Zone to be back on the air Wednesdays at 3:30pm. So, if you're on campus or within 250ft of the studio, tune in!

Summer's end in sight....

Which means one thing; the blog will be up and running soon enough....

Demotion?

Courtesy of Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:

"There is talk the Rangers might waive D Wade Redden at the start of next season and send him to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack to get his $6.5-million salary off the books. New York has tried to deal Redden, but nobody is willing to bite. He still has $32.5 million and five years left on his contract ..."

...Sweet sweet music to any Ranger fans ears. Will it actually happen? We shall see.

The Sun Sets on A Disappointing Season...

So here we are... left to pick up the pieces after a hard fought series losing Game 7 last night to the hands of Sergei Federov's game winning goal with 5 minutes to play in regulation to break a 1-1 tie. All we can do now is speculate on what could have happened:

After the promising start to the season (10-2-1), the Rangers were never able to regain their form after a 3-1 loss to Buffalo early on, where, for the 1st time at that point in the season, they were systematically shut down and, in their defeat, gave a blue print for the rest of the league on how to defend them with success. The Rangers simply didn't have enough offensive firepower and talent to overcome.

Not being able to establish a formidable power play also haunted the Rangers all season long. Only Columbus had a worse power play during the regular season. Sadly, the Rangers were never able to find a working system between 2 head coaches despite having an abundance of talent and experience to work with. They lacked a PP QB; someone who wanted the puck and to take charge (and we paid Wade Redden 6.5 mil for that title). They lacked the desire to get shots on net, where garbage goals live. And, when they did get shots on net they always seemed out of position for rebounds, either being too deep behind the goal line or not close enough to the net.

One of the biggest disappointments all season long was the enigmatic season of Nikolai Zherdev. The 23 yr old outcast of the Columbus Blue Jackets was brought in to be somewhat of a replacement offensively for the departed Jaromir Jagr for not only this season, but beyond as well. The Rangers brass thought a change of scenery could revitalize him. However, bringing him in to a defense-first system ultimately stymied his offensive ability ands was never able to combine a conscious defensive effort with his offensive potential. He ended the regular season with a troubling 58 points (tied for the team lead...really?) and 0 points and a -3 in the post-season while not cashing in on bountiful scoring chances he did have. Zherdev is a RFA this offseason and the Rangers have a big dilemma on their hands; re-sign him in hopes he rebounds to a better season, or let him walk? Personally, I'd let him walk, he doesn't seem to fit into Tortorella's system.

New York has a lot of decisions to make this offseason on who stays, who goes, and who to bring in. Glen Sather has crippled the Rangers with virtually no cap room maneuverability with big-time contracts (43 mil committed to 11 players) and with 11 FA's to negotiate with. Suffice to say, the Rangers will once again have a much different look to them going into next season. We'll see what Glen Sather is made of; his job might start to depend on it.

Until next time and next season...

J.W.

A Call to Arms

How fitting that both local teams in the playoffs, the Rangers and Devils, will have elimination Game 7's tonight to play for a chance to move on in Lord Stanley's playoffs. For the Rangers, a multitude of questions hang in the balance:

Will New York withstand the Capitals initial offensive onslaught? Or will they fold under the immense pressure?

Will Henrik Lundqvist continue his concerning play of late? Or will he rise up and perform a miracle of biblical proportions only seen rarely on frozen surfaces?

Will Ovechkin run wild over the Rangers D? Or will they dig deep and find a way to stymie the offensive juggernaut?

Will the likes of Gomez, Dury, Naslund, and Redden live up to their expensive reputations and lead their team to a victory? Or wilt in the face of adversity?

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It's a call to arms - to not only the Rangers, but to the fans. Unite for your team around the world where ever you may be. Believe as one that your team will find a way tonight to pull out a victory many think belongs in the hands of the Capitals. Faith is paramount here - no other will do. Fight with them, not against them. Glory awaits for the ones who yearn the most.

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Game 7 @ WSH 7:00pm start

Until next time....

J.W.

Varlamov does his best Tikanov, Caps blank 4-0

I apologize or no Game 2 re-cap, I didn't see the game and I'm almost sadden to say I saw all of tonight's Game 3 fizzling of the Rangers.

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Quick Hits:

- My hat is off to Simeone Varlamov. Although not severely tested all game, the rookie netminder posted his first ever win in the postseason with a shutout. To be able to go into MSG, down 2-0, and get a win like that deserves big time credit and puts Washington right back in the series.

- Rangers had no offensive flow all game. Most of that can be contributed to all the time New York spent killing penalties.

- Speaking of which, this had to have been one of the worst officiated playoff games I've seen. The Callahan high-sticking penalty, the Avery goalie interference. I have a hard time biting my lip when refs try to decide the outcome of a game by getting whistle happy. It goes to a completely different level when it occurs in the playoffs.

- Ryan Callahan has hit 3 posts so far in this series. Had he buried his chance tonight it would have been a 1-1 game, and not the 2-0 game it came to be 10 seconds after hitting iron.

- The Rangers power play has gone beyond scary to watch. The team once again had plenty of chances to get a goal and couldn't generate a lick of offense. It will make or break them in the playoffs.

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Game 4 is back at MSG Wednesday night 7pm start.

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Until next time...

J.W.

Jose Three-or-more lives up to his name; Rangers win 4-3 in Game 1

^ John Gianonne gets credit for that nickname. During the 2nd intermission, Gianonne uttered that nickname and I immediately chuckled. Then I realized it's absolutely true and not just meant in a joking manner.

Quick Hits:

- This was as exciting as a playoff game can get. Back and forth action from both teams. Superstars displaying their offensive talents. Henrik Lundqvist marveling in the net. I had heart palpitations every time Ovechkin had the puck in the Rangers zone.

- Give credit to the Rangers playing a man down who just so happens to be their captain Chris Drury. He skated in warm-ups but left shortly after and is still day-to-day. Voros played in his place. If the Rangers want a shot at winning this series; they will need Chris Dury.

- Speaking of Drury, Brandon Dubinsky did his best "Captain Clutch" impression, scoring the game-winning goal late in the 3rd. A welcomed sight for the Rangers. Hopefully, Dubi can gain some momentum from it.

- Marc Staal did an admirable job against Ovechkin (0 goals,2 assists, 13 shots!).

-Rangers scored 2 power play goals... WHAT?

- Big guns Gomez, Naslund, and Antropov combined for 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists).

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Game 2 1pm NBC game.. tune in!

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Until next time....

J.W.