The Rangers are 22nd in the NHL in offense, 26th on the power play. And that despite ranking seventh in shots on goal with 32.4 per game. On the other hand, they are first in defense, the only NHL team…

The Rangers are 22nd in the NHL in offense, 26th on the power play. And that despite ranking seventh in shots on goal with 32.4 per game. On the other hand, they are first in defense, the only NHL team…

It’s at least worth noting that the Rangers had their greatest power play outburst in recent memory last season in Toronto, when they scored five power play goals in a 6-1 win last Dec. 29.

OK, so there really is no correlation between one season and the next, and I’ll be the first one to admit [...]

So, how many games are you planning to attend live this season? I’m not asking season ticket holders…or maybe I am. I have heard that some are selling off games. It’s only a matter of time before NHL clubs begin to feel the crunch that we every day people have been feeling for a while. Hell, some are feeling it already if you are to believe reports about the Florida Panthers. For the past eleven years here at Hockeybird, we have avoided talking politics on the front page. Some of you know my political leanings…..but I see no reason to get into that. You get enough election coverage in the media. However, it’s about time we look at how todays headlines will effect tomorrows NHL. I hate the cap. It forces decisions about players to be influenced not on Ws and Ls but instead $$$. Since the lockout the cap has been raised each year as revenue for the NHL has increased. Anyone think that’s a trend that will continue? I sure don’t. If you think the Rangers possess little cap wiggle room now, think about the spot they’ll be in with a lower cap next year. You think I’m off base here? Think about it. Do you really expect AIG to buy a box at MSG next season? How about some of the other companies recently in the news? There could be a few suites up for grabs. How about season tix holders….any chance there are some who have to make the hard choice and perhaps drop ‘em for next season? Folks, I have kids. I have bills to pay. My salary is lower and expenses are up. Do the math……I have lost Center Ice as of now. No more games for me. How in the hell am I supposed to cover the NY Rangers if I can’t see the games? I suspect I’m not the only one in this sinking ship. While I don’t even pretend to have answers to our economic woes…..those running for office do. My guess, they are fooling us as well as themselves. But that’s a discussion for another site. The NHL better wake up to this mess. The Rangers take on the up and coming Leafs tonight. The game will be featured as part of Hockey Night In Canada. Last week that telecast was blocked out here in the southeast on Comcast as the NHL network which is part of my package was scheduled to show it. Making matters worse, the two games were not even available on the Center Ice channels. Tonight’s game is supposed to be shown on the NHL network as they again will be picking up HNIC. If it’s blocked again there will be hell to pay. This is a story I intend to pursue and if needed I will ask for your help. On to the team……as Jim points out, we have a pretty good record so far eh? I continue to read message board postings slamming the team, it’s players and coaching staff while I watch them win. It makes me wonder what some fans want. Perfection each and every night? Does each shift have to be played without any allowance for perhaps the other team making a decent play? Maybe it’s just me but when I played it was obvious to me that many things happen on the ice during a game….and they happen so fast that sometimes…..well, sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. There’s a reason so few perfect games are pitched in MLB and the same applies to the NHL but in a much larger way. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that the Blueshirts can sit back and relax. There are indeed areas needing improvement if the club expects a trip to the finals. We have a long way to go before thinking about that. Yet it is interesting that Coach Renny declined to accept Sathers idea to have Shanny return. It’s public knowledge that Slats and Shanny are friendly. It’s not a far reach to think that Shanny and his agent had some type of info to hold out this long before looking at other teams. But the coach decided to decline….sticking with the current roster. Does Renny now wield that much power at MSG? It sure looks that way to me. It appears that it’s his team. Not since Keenan has a NYR coach had that much roster control. As the season progresses, it’ll be interesting to watch this issue and it’s effect. As you know, the NHL isn’t the only league in the world. Sweden has a league too…..um, I do wonder about it’s fan base though. It never occurred to me to bring sex toys to a game. I must be missing out on something eh? “Supporters of the Stockholm-based AIK ice hockey team scored an unusual hat trick of heckling on Tuesday night featuring dildos, profane banners, and a giant inflatable penis.” The Rodent suggested that the sky will fall on our Blueshirts the other day. I hope he’s wrong. Rangerland continues to entertain the masses. They get it…..this is supposed to be FUN! Enjoy the game. Let’s hope I can see Don Cherry tonight on the DVR when I get home. If not, Ed Schneider will be hearing from me. —-}- Bird…

Closing in on what might have been a fifth straight victory on Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the Rangers were ambushed by a red-hot Toronto team that scored five times in the closing 7:25 for a remarkable 5-2 comeback win.

AT

Tonight’s Game
The Rangers face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Air Canada Centre (7:00 p.m.). The Blueshirts currently sit atop the Atlantic Divis…

AT

Tonight’s Game
The Rangers face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Air Canada Centre (7:00 p.m.). The Blueshirts currently sit atop the Atlantic Divis…

The Oct. 13 death of 19-year-old Alexei Cherepanov, who collapsed on the bench during a KHL game, was a tragedy. But from a hockey perspective, the passing of the Rangers’ 2007 first-round draft choice not only creates a huge void in the future…

Jaromir Jagr is gone, along with his complaints to Michal Rozsival to shoot less and pass more. But perhaps Rozsival still suffers flashbacks. Does a surgically implanted chip, activated from Omsk, continue to resonate in the head of the Rangers’…

Rangers head coach Tom Renney discusses the Blueshirts’ 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Nov. 1 at the Air Canada Centre.