10 games Left: Rangers Stretch Run

Tonight the Rangers will face off against the Detroit Red Wings (44-25-4 92 pts) in an Original Six Matchup at Madison Square Garden.  The Blueshirts are one point up on the Pittsburgh Penguins, with 10 games remaining on the season.  The battle between these two teams will determine who has the number 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference, and possibly the NHL. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be in net tonight, possibily with Artem Anisimov returning to the Rangers lineup after missing a couple of games.  Nick Lidstrom will be out again for the Red Wings, who will also have Ty Conklin in goal. The game kicks off at 730pm on NBC sports network.

Rangers vs Red Wings Pregame Podcast

MSG Transformation

View from the current 400s goal end on the 8th avenue side of the arena.  These seats will be the only 400's seats or "blue seats" remaining in the newly transformed Madison Square Garden.  They are located behind the goal the Rangers shoot twice on, and below the new West End Balcony.  They consist of several sections wide and seven rows deep, with the last two rows being obstructed seats that will be discounted.  They will be one of the least expensive seats in the new arena, with a great view for all the on-the-ice action.  

MSG Transformation

Pictured above is the current scorboard or "Garden Vision" of MSG.  During the final phase of the Transformaton process in 2013, it will be replaced with a brand new scoreboard that will be in the center of the arena.  There will also be new ribbon scoreboards that will wrap around the arena, as well as on the sides of the new Chase Bridges.  

MSG Transformation

Above is the luxury suites and banners of retired Rangers players.  Next season those luxury suites will be removed and the banners will also be in a different location.  The banners will be located further towards the center of the iconic MSG ceiling.  In 2013, during the final phase of the transformation process, two Chase Bridges will span across the arena in the place of those suites and banners.  They will connect the two tenth floor fan decks, the West End Balcony and the Budweiser Fan Deck.  

MSG Transformation:Upper Bowl

View of Madison Square Garden Bowl seating.  During the summer of 2012, MSG will be in the undergoing phase two of the three year renovation process.  The lower bowl shown above was completed as a part of year one.  Seperated by the walkway is the current 300s and 400s (upper bowl seating), next season they will be combined to form the new 200s (upper bowl).  Also, the suites located on the 10th floor of MSG, near the ceiling will be taken out.  In the place of that walkway will be brand new luxury suites that will wrap around the entire arena.  The upper bowl will be much more steeper, as it will be built on top of the luxury suites, creating a seating bowl closer to the ice surface. Ticket prices in the new upper bowl range from $150-$50 dollars for season ticket holders. All the seats will have increased pricing for next season. 

Overtime Winner Snaps Rangers 3-game slide

The Rangers received a huge boost last night with a win over the Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

In the midst of their first 3-game losing streak of the season, the Rangers scored three power play goals for the second time this season to defeat the New York Islanders.  It also doesn’t help that the Pittsburgh Penguins have won nine in a row to shrink the Rangers division lead to four points.

It took a Marian Gaborik 4 on 3 power play goal with five seconds remaining in overtime, for the Rangers to regain some momentum on the first night of a seven game homestand.  It was Gaborik’s team-leading 33^rd goal of the season, of an assist from Brad Richards.  Richards also added two power play goals on the evening, as well as the game winning assist, earning him the first star of the game.

The Rangers outshot the Islanders 36-19, but never held a clear advantage in the game.  The Isles scored first, and continued to regain the lead every time the Rangers tied it.  Of course as always, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist kept the blueshirts in the game.  His biggest save came in overtime against Frans Nielsen.

The three power play goals came at a time where the entire team was struggling, not only the power play, which has become a significant weakness of the team.  The call up of second-year forward Mats Zuccarello could be helpful, as he was on the ice for all three power play goals.  After the game coach John Tortorella said that Zuccarello added passing on the power play that has been lacking.

The blueshirts were without their Captain Ryan Callahan who is suffering from a lingering bruised foot issue.  Defensemen Michael Del Zotto also missed the Sunday night tilt.  They are two players who have a big impact on both sides of the puck for the Rangers. The blueshirts will need both players healthy if they want to make a long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning next month.

The Rangers next game is Tuesday night vs. Carolina.  It will be the second of seven straight games at home.  They are now 43-18-7 with 93 points on the season.  The Rangers had 93 points all of last year.  They need 10 more wins to break the franchise record, and 20 more points.  They can clinch a playoff birth with 6 more points. 

Rangers Outlast Bruins 4-3: Begin to Pull Away

In one of the most hard-fought, hard-hitting games of the season, The Rangers proved once again why they are on top of the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

Sunday’s matinee between the top two teams in the East lived up to the hype, as the Rangers beat the Bruins on a late third period goal by Derek Stepan.  The blueshirts got off to one of their fastest starts of the season, scoring two goals in the first six minutes.  After that, it was a Boston controlled game as the Bruins were consistent on the forcheck in the Rangers zone. 

Rangers celebrate game winning goal vs Bruins

The Bruins capitalized on two uncommon defensive lapses by the Rangers.  First was a Benoit Pouliot goal in the first period off of an Anton Stralman turnover.  Early in the second, a rare mistake by Rangers defensive iron man Dan Girardi, led to a slapshot goal by Jordan Caron. It was a dogfight for the rest of the second period, and the Rangers were fortunate to come out unscathed.

A few heavyweight bouts also made their way onto the Garden ice Sunday, as there were three separate fights within the first two periods.  Mike Rupp, Brandon Prust, and Stu Bickel each received fighting majors for the blueshirts, with Rupp and Bickel respectively getting the nods in their tilt.  Prust on the other hand took on Bruins notorious winger Milan Lucic, which didn’t go so well for Prust, and probably swung momentum in the favor of Boston. 

An early third period goal by Rangers leading scorer Marian Gaborik put the blueshirts up one.  Half way through the period, the Bruins high-powered top line tied the game at three, on a goal by David Krejci.  The resilient Rangers dug deep, and answered back a minute later.  On a beautiful feed from defensemen Michael Del Zotto, Derek Stepan ripped a shot past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas for the game-winning goal.

As always, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was great in net for the blueshirts, with thirty saves on the day.  He is continuing to build his case for a unanimous vote for the Vezina trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender.  The Rangers were also without their captain Ryan Callahan, who missed his third straight game with a bone bruise in his foot.  Callahan, who is the core and identity of this team, was definitely missed, but the outlook is optimistic as he skated over the weekend. 

Rangers Forward Derek Stepan

The Rangers are now 42-15-7 with 91 points on the season.  They are first overall in the NHL, and 10 points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Atlantic Division.  They are also 12 points up on the Bruins now in the conference, with 18 games remaining.  Last season, the Rangers did not reach 91 points until the 80^th game of the season.  They can clinch a playoff birth with 12 more points, and the conference with 27 more.  The Blueshirts also need 11 more wins to set a franchise record for most wins in a season, and 22 more points for the franchise record for points in a season. 

The next game is Tuesday night in Newark vs. the New Jersey Devils.