Displaced Yankee NY Sports Blog

1:34 - After an excruciating 1st period where the Rangers were outplayed but stole a tie in the final second of the period, I am passing up the post game post and instead switching to my failed stream of conscience 

1:37 - Rangers blow a power play to open the period , but the dynamic has shifted after the 1st intermission, Rangers asserting themselves better… I may be able to start wiping away the tears

1:39 - side note: good that the Yankees didn’t show up today. Way to really go for that sweep fellas

1:41 - Torts burns his timeout after an icing. Rangers clear and get a whistle. Hopefully they won’t miss that later.

1:42 - Game still scrappy and physical. The way NY v. Philly should be. 

1:42 - Another side note: JORGIE JUICED ONE. Tie ballgame

1:44 - Rangers can’t capitalize on a 2 on 1 set up by Avery, that may haunt them.

1:45 - Game slowing a hair, I get that sinking feeling the longer we stay tied, the sooner the Rangers start protecting their point and playing for a shootout like we always do. I hate that strategy dammit

1:49 - Apparently Marc Staal broke his nose on that 1st period high stick. Marc Staal on the ice. Reason#4534 why athletes bodies are destroyed by age 40 

1:52 - Halfway point of period number 2, ice seems to be tilted slightly towards the Rangers end, getting a bit nervous. It felt this way before PHI’s opening goal.

1:54 - To qualify last post, possession aside, neither team creating many chances on goal 

1:55 - Too Many Men on the Ice Penalty. These are the kinds of mistakes that feed playoff chance collapses. I’ve read this story somewhere before

1:57 - Brandon Prust, shorthanded goal master creates a chance after some great defense. Lundqvist follows with a nice save. Heart starting to race. PP almost killed off

1:59 - GOAL FEDOTENKO. Scrum in the Philly end after the PP ends, loose puck finds Ruslan with an open goal at his mercy. Something tells me Torterella is going to circle his wagons around Henrik’s goal from here on out.

2:01 - Coburn and Boyle drops the gloves after a hard hit on Fedotenko, refs let them go for a good while, this game is going to be very entertaining, no lost love between these two teams.

2:09 - McDonough gets beats and takes a penalty. BIG PK upcoming. Also, Yanks getting beat but holy shit is Mark Teixeira hot!

2:12 - Save after save after block after save. Rangers hanging on by the hair on their chinny chin chin. Unbelievable PK

2:13 - Bad angle shot held by Lundqvist and the Rangers get a much needed breather. Effort certainly not lacking today.

2:15 - 2nd PERIOD OVER - Lunqvist makes a save at the horn and ensures NY will carry a 2-1 lead into the 3rd. I would pay good money to hear Torts’ speech to rally his troops for the final 20 minutes. They’ve already shown a willingness to leave it all on the line and will need more of the same to hang on. 

2:32 - Hells Bells playing as they take the ice for this huge period. Most important 20 minutes of the season to this point for the Rangers.

2:34 - Dumb penalty in the offensive zone right out of the gate. Gaborik whistled for the high stick. 

2:34 - Quick clear off the draw, Flyers again struggling to get anything going. Girardi’s stick breaks, could be trouble but NY clears again. Halfway home.

2:36 - Dominant PK, these guys want it bad

2:38 - 4 on 4 hockey up coming. Rangers won’t want to see things opening up

2:40 - Lundqvist makes a pair of huge saves, the second his own fault after getting caught out of position. Things getting very nervy at the Wachovia Center

2:41 - Zherdev breaks NY hearts. It was coming… IDK if i can do this anymore.

2:43 - Gaborik blows a chance by waiting too long to shoot, draws a penalty in the process.

2:46 - Nothing comes from it, 12:30 left in regulation…

2:49 - Rangers playing at half speed compared to the Flyers, even one point starting to seem unlikely now.

2:51 - Rangers almost steal one against the run of play, 8 minutes left in regulation.

2:55 - 7 minutes. Survival mode for the Blueshirts

2:57 - Save by Lundqvist through traffic. 5 and change left. NBC leaves for commercial break #245. Trouble paying the bills much?

3:03 - 3 minutes from at least a point

3:06 - Deflection off of a defenders skate just gave a few thousand Ranger fans a heart attack. Puck kept out somehow. I’m dying a slow death

3:07 - Rangers win draw in their own zone and clear. 90 seconds.

3:08 - Save by Lunqvist with 6 seconds left. Too much in the last minute to even describe. I will simply say I am now literally shaking. That pretty much covers it.

3:09 - Rangers win the draw. Rangers get a point. Rangers will go home for the last three games of the year with a chance of controlling their own fate pending the Buffalo-Carolina game later today.

3:13 - Rangers only hope probably a shootout. 

3:15 - back and forth high flying hockey, just rediculous

3:16 - late season shootout to come in Philly. This seems familiar to me

3:19 - Here we go

3:20 - Save Henrik! Zherdev can’t come through

3:20 - GOAL CHRISTENSEN!!!!!!!!!! GREAT MOVE

3:20 - SAVE AGAIN! Giroux doesn’t get it off!

3:21 - WOLSKI! WOLSKI! WOLSKI! WOLSKI! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL GOAL GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3:23 - Rangers win. Gutty. Gritty. They exorcise the demons of last year’s heartbreak in this same building by guaranteeing they control their own destiny for the 3 game home stand that stands between them and post-season hockey.  The Baby Blueshirts were not supposed to be much this year, but they are a few more results from ensuring at least a little taste of the playoffs. Lots of work to be done though, and obviously a keen interest in the Sabres-Canes game later. Overtime obviously the key to avoid. 

3:26 - Wow, this post really sucks. Sorry if you read all of this =)

Okay, so it has been some time since my last post, blame the combination of intense schoolwork, limited time on a computer over spring break, and lack of any real motivation to write anything. So, a few random musings to hold break the silence:

- The Nets are getting me very excited for next season. Unfortunately its too late for a playoff run this year, but the presence of a quality guard is going to bring out great things from the likes of Brooks Lopez and Kris Humphries. They are one or two pieces away from being in that 4-6 seed range in the East next year.

- As much as I would like to buy into the hype that is Manny Banualos and many of the other Yankee prospects (Betances, Montero, etc.), I just can’t get excited until I see something in the majors during the regular season. That being said, if even one or two of the plethora of Yankees overhyped prospects are decent ballplayers, it bodes well for the future. 

- As much as I hate the Devils will every ounce of blood in my body, there is something fun about watching what they’ve done the second half of this season. All the better when their fans suffer when they finally are knocked out…hopefully

- The Knicks, as as much as it pains me to say it, are going at least to the second round of the playoffs. I just get the feeling this team has a surprise in them, and while they will be ultimately undone by their defense, somebody might fall victim before then.

- The one thing that makes that last statement less painful: knowing Knicks fans won’t be able to afford to see their team in the future

- Qualifier to that last bullet: Rangers’ prices going up too =(

- More on the Rangers: they are on their way to another early round exit at best this year. On the bright side, this young team has much more upside looking forward than the teams of years past who were a second round team at their peak.

- Bartolo Colon is still really fat

- Ivan Nova just locked up a spot in the Yankee rotation as I type this. Hell of a performance, a shame it came in March

- And lastly, may everybody enjoy the great holiday that is tomorrow, not just St. Patrick’s Day, but also beginning of the NCAA tournament day. Let the revelry begin!

There were quite a few across the NY Sports landscape last night…

For the Devils:

While you have been a cute second half story, you did too much damage early. All that is left is to play spoiler.

For the Rangers:

Fans can talk themselves off the ledge for the time being. Lets remember this team is still young and is going to be streaky, both good and bad. Back to Back wins over good teams like the Hurricanes and Capitals should put a few fears to rest. That said, lets put away those “Stanley Cup Contender” claims some were suggesting earlier this year. This team has a positive outlook, but they are not a winner just yet.

For the Nets:

Just because you have Deron Williams doesn’t change the fact that you are the Nets. If you are looking for a basket to throw your eggs into however, consider the parallels between the Williams situation to the Kidd one a decade ago. Seemingly traded for a rental of a great point guard, terrible record initially, and suspicion the point guard would bolt the moment the opportunity presented itself. We all know how the Kidd story ended, lets keep our fingers crossed that history repeats.

For the Knicks:

Yes, we are all aware that Carmelo was not gonna win every game from here on out. Yes, this was a road game with teammates still adjusting to a new system. But a loss to the worst team in basketball can’t be ignored. And that is a lot of points to surrender to a team with that little talent and that little to play for. I’m sure this is just a bump in the road for a team that will develop, but more of the same could be a troubling sign.

Championships are not won during the regular season, and Game 62 out of 82 is just that, a single game. No more important than the one before or the one after. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates have emotional wins in July, even the Washington Wizards can have a special night. 

Last night, the New York Rangers were victorious. It was the 32nd time they left the ice a winner this year, and it won’t be the last. They are still miles and miles from ensuring a return to playoff hockey, and will need many more special moments to get where they want to go. But what happened last night in Raleigh was significant. Early Sunday afternoon, the Rangers took a 1-0 lead on the Philadelphia Flyers. Then Marion Gaborik got hurt, the Rangers could not complete a 2 goal comeback, and the Ranger’s post All-Star break woes continued. Last night, the Rangers took another 1-0 lead, and once again saw it slip away. Marc Staal got injured, and once again the outlook was grim. Losing last night would not have knocked the Blueshirts out of the playoffs. The Rangers could have lost and still sat in the 8th seed in the East. But a statement had to be made by this team.

Finally, with under 2 minutes left in regulation, Wojtek Wolski stepped up a delivered a much needed game tying goal. Not long after, he scored in the shootout. Henrik Lundqvist, so average of late, did his part, stopping all three shootout attempts, just like the leader of this franchise would be expected to do when a win was this badly needed. 

If you’re a Rangers fan, there is plenty to be worried about these days. The overachievers from the first half of the year are missing, and the young inexperienced team we came into the year expecting to see has come to light. But last night that young team made a statement. They still have the heart and the fight that got them to where they are so far, and that isn’t going away any time soon. 

Okay, I qualify everything I am about to say by admitting, basketball is not my area of expertise, I don’t know all the intricacies of what makes a good basketball team and what makes up a great all around roster, and most of my knowledge is a result of being an avid Bill Simmons reader. However, my opinion of the past day’s events in the basketball world:  

Knicks fans and Nuggets fans alike should be ecstatic.

Knicks First:

It doesn’t matter if Donnie Walsh didn’t push for it, it doesnt matter if James Dolan overpaid, hell it doesnt matter if He Who Shall Not Be Named (Isaiah Thomas) was somehow involved. On Monday, February 21st, 2011, the New York Knicks were not a championship caliber team. They were a smidge above .500 in a mostly dreadful Eastern Conference. On February 22nd, 2011, they are probably still not a championship team. Probably is the key word. Yes, Danilo Gallinari was a fun folk hero among Italian New Yorkers, Raymond Felton was a nice surprise, and Timofey Mozgov showed glimmers of potential. But in a conference with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls, they combined for a team that would never surpass a 4 seed going into the playoffs (and even that is if we toss Orlando aside) and had no chance in taking down not only the East elites but the Spurs or Lakers in a Final. Before people gripe over who the Knicks sent away, lets remember, the only reason Felton was here was to bridge the gap before Deron Williams and Chris Paul entered free agency (its no coincidence his contract ran only through 2012) and in all fairness, Chauncey Billups is probably a better PG if not comparable. Mozgov sat on the bench half of this year, he was a nothing signing coming into the year and the Knicks turned him into a key piece that brought Melo to NY. That is a victory in every sense. Lastly, with Gallinari, no great player comes for free and he was the real price for this trade. But trades are supposed to be made to benefit both teams and Gallinari is a fair price for what the Knicks get in return. However, this trade is (I think) obviously good for NY, but the remarkable thing is how good it is for Denver.

Denver had only one trading partner in this market. The Nets were not a factor. They were never a factor. The trade Denver and NJ “agreed” upon this past week was essentially the same deal they agreed upon in December. And again in January. Carmelo was not going to New Jersey. He would have probably stayed in Denver before that. This is why the Nuggets deserve credit. They had two options: work a deal with the Knicks or pray to get Anthony to sign the extension. It would have been easy to take the latter and if things didn’t work out, they could go the Dan Gilbert route and demonize selfish athletes and garner fan support that way. Instead the worked a deal, and what a deal. While they had almost no leverage, they played the Knick’s fears about the Nets against them and forced Dolan into parting with a couple more pieces than he probably had to. 

While both teams are winners, this is a deal for the future. The Knicks will be better next year then they will this one, and watch out if the new labor agreement allows them to chase a CP or Deron Williams the year after that (no guarantee). The biggest loser is the Nuggets fans who must now patiently wait until their team can rebuild around the assets acquired in this trade and the Nets, who will likely forever suffer from being second banana to the Knicks no matter who their owner is or where they play. Jason Kidd and back to back finals appearances couldn’t change that, and nothing but a steady run of success (think Mets vs. Yankees in the 80’s) can threaten that. And even that example didn’t last long, did it?

Anyway, Knicks fans can celebrate a new hope for success. Its just a shame you won’t be able to afford to see it live. You can always feel free to join me watching my beloved Nets in $1 seats at the Rock ;)

After several (failed) attempts to launch a blog for the purpose of imparting my various thoughts on the wide world of sports on whoever is willing to listen, an unbearable afternoon with my accounting textbook has given me enough motivation to try this once again. Hopefully some of you out there will find what I have to say meaningful, and if not, I guess I’ll just be talking to myself.

Anyway, expect in the near future some posts on the Carmelo situation, Spring Training, the Rangers, and perhaps even a look at college hoops - the Johnnies are rolling! 

for now, I’ll link up one quick photo to define why my excitement for the baseball season ahead is in steady decline. Without further adieu, I present a guy who has a legit shot at the Yankees’ starting rotation. Dear.God.

 http://www.pinstripealley.com/2011/2/19/2003002/caption-contest-no-2-do-you-like-these-should-they-appear-daily