Plenty of goal celebrations tonight please.

Plenty of goal celebrations tonight please.

If you think the Rangers media/fan base is bad, you should have seen the stink kicked up by Jake Gardiner’s agent in Toronto. One naughty tweet (“free Jake Gardiner”) created a storm of speculation. Rangers’ prospects should relax knowing they don’t need to deal with the overzealous Toronto market.

Following on from his recent upturn in form, Michael Del Zotto is averaging a point per game against the Jets franchise. The Buffalo game aside (almost everyone stank), it will be interesting to see MDZ on the puck tonight and see whether he can continue to bring the level of poise and confidence he’s had recently. He’s an important part of this team, and when he’s on can make other players around him more dangerous.

Something about tonight’s match up; if the team can’t enter this game motivated, hungry, and with serious energy I’ll be slightly concerned. The Rangers and Jets are 8th and 9th in the standings, with the same points. There is a lot riding on this game. This is the kind of game where the Rangers better players need to step up.

If the Rangers do lose tonight (heaven forbid) they are in danger of losing ground on the 5-7 seeds. If they win, it’s all congested again. That point just re-emphasises how big tonight potentially is.

I hear people crying about a lack of respect from John Tortorella in his press conference after the Sabres game… Get over it. This is a passionate and demanding coach who is trying to send a message to his team. He’s not being personal; he’s just trying to be a coach. I’d rather see this passion, anger and desire in the coach than have someone who throws bland clichés at the media just to fulfill his obligations.

Despite his game winner against the Islanders, we really, really need to see Marian Gaborik more. Not just flashes in games, but consistently strong performances. Time’s ticking.

Personally I thought the Matt Gilroy-Steve Eminger pair was abysmal against the Sabres. I also think an out of condition Roman Hamrlik can’t be any worse than Gilroy.

So long as the Rangers are at the wrong end of the playoff seed battle we likely won’t see Marty Biron get as many starts as the coaching staff would want. Henrik Lundqvist needs rest but he’s also the key to the Rangers getting into the playoffs. No point having a well rested goalie that’s playing golf (or guitar) come May.

I’ve been hugely impressed with Derek Stepan recently. He’s visibly growing on the ice, both from a production and performance point of view. He’s stepping up when the team needs it. He’s playing intelligent hockey and suggesting that maybe he can become a top line center. He’s the Rangers no.1 right now, that’s for sure.

Taylor Pyatt has disappeared. Has Jeff Halpern even appeared at all?

Question time:

  • Do the Rangers make a trade before deadline day?
  • (With the PP improving) what is your biggest concern on the Rangers right now?
  • Will Lundqvist reach 20 wins this season?
  • Who has been the biggest disappointment defensively?
  • Hagelin, Stepan or Richards; who ends up with the most points?

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