The Rangers are playing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Boston on Sunday. The Broadway Blueshirts dropped game 1 of the series 3-2 after an overtime goal from Brad Marchand sunk New York.
At times it wasn't a guarantee that the Blueshirts would make it into the playoffs. After essentially playing two weeks of playoff games at the end of the lockout-shortened season, the Rangers worked their way in as a six seed in the Eastern Conference. Their first round opponent is a familiar one: the Washington Capitals.
The hockey scheduling gods have done the New York Rangers a favor, giving them an easy schedule at a crucial time in the hunt for a postseason spot. The Broadway Blue Shirts, with three games left, will take on Florida, Carolina and New Jersey, three teams that have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
The Rangers are in the 8th spot of the Eastern Conference with the Winnipeg Jets three points behind them the final week of the season, but Captain Ryan Callahan refuses to look in the rear view mirror.
There is a certain humility that comes with being a captain in the National Hockey League. Often times when things go wrong, the “C” is expected to face the cameras of swarming New York media. A soft spoken, gritty seventh year veteran, Ryan Callahan embodies humility as he sits in his stall and answers every question from every reporter. He embodies the identity the Rangers wished they possessed right now. Put simply, his on and off ice demeanor has held the Blueshirts in postseason position.
Madison Square Garden is legendarily known as, ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’, but that very building has had some unpleasantly long summers for quite some time now. The Knicks are going on 40 years removed since their last Championship, and the Rangers last won a Stanley Cup behind Mark Messier’s guarantee in 1994, their first and last since 1940.
At first, I was offended when I heard John Tortorella refused to answer basic questions from the media about injuries and in-game pep talks. He is paid plenty of money, money earned off the backs of the fans that attend games and spend a ridiculous sum for “NHL Center Ice”, to answer these questions. How could a hockey coach ignore those fans that bleed blue when they want a little more access to the team they pay so much to see? In hindsight, my offense was shortsighted.
Kenny Ducey and I were able to get a great outlook on the Rangers season talking with Rangers play-by-play announcer for MSG Network, Sam Rosen.
Rosen had an overall optimistic feel about where the team is in comparison to the start of the season. We were able to ask him why the Rangers power play has been so poor this year, if he was surprised by Rick Nash's low goal total, and if he thinks Head Coach John Tortorella is too harsh on his players.
The full interview can be heard on the link below!
WFUV Beat Reporters Eric Mollo, Mike Watts, and Kenny Ducey broke down the Giants, Rangers, and Nets respectively before Fordham's game at La Salle Saturday. Click below to hear reaction to Ahmad Bradshaw's release, how the Rangers can return to the top of the East, and what is hurting the Nets so badly.
Hockey is back! Alex and I were joined by the voice of the NHL on NBC, and WFUV Member Mike Emrick just a few hours before he called the Penguins and Flyers in Philadelphia to talk about the shortened season.
Lockout. Just the very word can send shivers down a sports fans’ spine. The agonizing thought that an individual cannot watch their beloved team on a regular basis because millionaires are squabbling with millionaires over miniscule details is almost unbearable.
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