The Dark Ranger: We Take It, 4-3

Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More four years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of Graying Mantis

Graying Mantis is in fact a graying legal practitioner by day (and sometimes, alas, by night). In the cobwebs of his memory, he recalls starting to follow the Blueshirts in 1970 and remembers watching pivotal playoff games against the Blackhawks on a snow-covered Hartford t.v. channel in their 1972 march to the Finals. Giacomin, Gilbert, Ratelle, and Hadfield seen skating on a small B&W TV screens always will be among his first Ranger memories. He is grateful beyond words for the opportunity to work with his colleagues here in their never ending battle to inform and entertain. Most of all, he appreciates the chance to engage with fellow hockey fans.

Bio of J_Undisputed

"J_Undisputed is an Information Tech Professional; a student, and on and off in his dreams, Mike Richter. He caught his first glimpse of Rangers Hockey when an overtime preempted his favorite pro wrestling broadcast on WWOR-9 one late saturday night when he was 5 and he's been hooked ever since. He's been watching the Rangers for 30 years despite family attempts to make him an Islander Fan (Rest easy...they're out of the will). What started as a minor annoyance has become a life long passion (and at times, a frustration...But he wouldn't trade it for anything). Lets Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Friday, September 21, 2007

We Take It, 4-3

The first game of the season (pre-season) ends with a New York Rangers victory filled with many hungry young kids looking to impress management by throwing themselves into the nearest NJ Devil.

Sean Avery taking out his teammate of four months ago, Kevin Weekes, is now the first-string backup to that Marty Fella. As expected, Avery made his presence known and again showed his affinity toward New Jersey goalies. Kevin Weekes was taken out of the game due to (temporary) injuries caused by Avery.

Ryan Callahan had a goal and an assist. Dane Byers, Blair Betts and Martin Straka also scored for the Rangers, while Al Montoya stopped 12-of-13 shots. On the Devils end, Brian Gionta posted a goal and an assist for the Devils.

I love Ryan Callahan -- he pulled a Brian Leetch on that second goal and it is inspiring to see some of our starters playing toward the net. Perhaps perimeter play is a thing of the past.

Tomorrow, the debut of Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and our Captain Jagr playing on the ice tomorrow against my favorite Philadelphia Flyers. Have I mentioned how much I dislike the orange and black?

tdr

4 comments:

PatriciaSep 21, 2007 08:54 PM
Some of your youngins look pretty good. New York has a promising future, though I do worry about your guys' defense this season. Then again, the entire Atlantic has sub par defense, so it may really just be a moot point.

Patricia
2ManAdvantage.com
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The Dark RangerSep 22, 2007 05:11 AM
I cannot disagree with you on certain Avery comments and the state of defence in the Atlantic Division.

The pre-season is not the time and place for hitting goalies, if ever a time - I am sure Sean is overcompensating for the nature of his tenacious free agent negotiations this summer. Prove to his teammates, but more importantly the fan base, that he is still the bully of Broadway. I have a feeling he will get seriously hurt this season. Hope not.

Some of last night"s performances will make it difficult for Coach Renney. The more I think of it, Darius Kasparitus proved why he"ll be starting in Hartford this season! I am confident that The King and our starting D-men will light it up! Who is that guy named Brodeur on your team? Can he play? ;)
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PatriciaSep 22, 2007 11:42 AM
TDR -
You've got a point when it comes to Avery. He definitely looks like he wants to prove something out there. I wish he didn't have to drive the point so hard, he is a helluva player and like I said, he's got Claude Lemieux syndrome -- you HATE the guy unless he's on your team, then you absolutely love him...and if he's not on your team, you bash him 'til no end, yet secretly wish he was on your side.

Kaspar was awful last night. It's too bad, he's not that old, but it seems like he just doesn't have much left in the tank. Like Avery, he was trying waaaay hard to prove a point, but he missed the mark.

BTW, maybe we could do some sort of collaboration this year...battle of the blogs or something when it comes to Devils-Rangers games. From what you've posted on 2MA and what I've read here, you seem very level headed and quite the respectable fan. I think we could have fun (=

Patricia
2ManAdvantage.com
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The Dark RangerSep 22, 2007 08:08 PM
Always up for the challenge...let me know what you have in mind.
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