The Dark Ranger: Blueshirts Open Season Tonight, Eyes on the Cup!

Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More fourteen 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 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).

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Blueshirts Open Season Tonight, Eyes on the Cup!

The New York Rangers debut their season, 7PM EST, against the Florida Panthers in the home season opener tonight at The World's Most Famous Arena. More eyes will be watching than ever as the Blueshirts "on paper" are predicted (and targeted) as a real Stanley Cup contender. On the ice is always a different matter. Aside from the talk by hockey fans, critics and experts in the NHL, it all begins and ends with the players on the ice and the locker room is abuzz.

Brendan Shanahan has said of this upcoming season, "Every year there's probably about half a dozen or maybe eight teams that have the players to win the Cup, but only one of them can win. We're one of those teams right now."

Chris Drury is quoted, "I think it's a good thing for me, because I always want to give more and I always want to be at my best. As a New York fan -- Rangers fan, Yankees fan, Knicks fan, whatever it is -- they always expect more, 110 percent. And they always expect you to be at your best, and that's where I always want to be, so it's a good match."

Sean Avery ends with, "Florida is dead to me. I will eat their young." (he never really said this, but I am sure he'll demonstrate it this evening)

The puck drops at 7pm EST at Madison Square Garden. Who would win in a fight? "The King" of the Jungle or a little tropical Panther? We'll know soon enough.

tdr

(press here to download complete game notes for tonight)

2 comments:

AnonymousThursday, October 04, 2007 11:00:00 PM
Aside from the second period you have to love what you got from the team today. The blend of youth and veterans is fun to watch... I think Callahan could be a big factor for the team this year and if Staal ever translates what he was able to do in juniors to success in the NHL this team really becomes scary... it's been a while... let's enjoy this one folks!

-Gino
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The Dark RangerThursday, October 04, 2007 11:26:00 PM
Gino...It was a mess in that second period and uninspiring with all that talent on the ice, but whatever they decided or whatever Renney said over the second break - it showed in the third. Fantastic and I agree with everything you've said. The mix of experienced veterans and gritty youth could make a special season ahead.

Leetchie was unexpected as well. Great fun.
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