Brad Isbister has been recalled from Hartford for the playoff push....
I know, you're thinking "What playoff push? They'll beat the Devs and lose to Columbus on Saturday!"
Ah, cynics after my own heart.
Isbister's summons came after practice and is probably linked to Marcel Hossa's sore neck, which Renney described in NHL-speak as an "upper-body" injury, and guessed that he was 50-50 for tomorrow's tilt against New Jersey at MSG.
Shanahan, of course, remains out, but D Marek Malik, who also missed the excruciating 2-1 loss on Tuesday---said after practice (during which he wore a yellow (non-contact) jersey, that although his sprained shoulder could use weeks of rest, he wants to---and will---dress tomorrow for the rematch.
The Rangers remain four points out of a playoff spot, and to reach coach Tom Renney's "magic number" of 93 points, they will have to go 15-7 the rest of the way.
The simmering tea kettle of frustration is starting to boil. Jaromir Jagr walked away from a group of reporters after a few questions after practice. “It’s getting frustrated because it’s the same thing all the time,” Jagr said. “It’s just over and over and over. You figure it out.”
Tell you what. If they beat Jersey, the Jackets and then Montreal on the night of the trade deadline---and Shanahan gets back and is effective and they add a mid-level scorer and a depth defenseman---well, 12-7 after that is possible.
But more and more, doesn't it feel like grasping at straws?
Your thoughts?
Will swing by again here later...
Comments (14)
I was hopeful yesterday...but I'm not so sure any more...can anyone talk me off the ledge?
Matt- Stay right where you are, because I'm comming to join you. Now only if we can get Tom Renney to join us, we could both push him off, and we could look forward to a new coach on Broadway. Seriously though. The way their defense has played, and will probably continue to play, is going to cost them a chance to make the playoffs. Too many giveaways, and too soft in their own zone, is what has plagued them all season. And like I've said a 100 times, your coach should be making the proper adjustments to solving their problems, instead Renney has contributed to them.
Nice to see that I'm not alone in wanting Renney gone, but I wanted him gone weeks ago - hell, months ago. Maybe a new coach (and there certainly won't be one this season) wouldn't have worked immediate wonders, but sticking with Renney has meant endorsing the status quo. And I know that getting Shanahan was supposed to bring back memories of Messier's arrival, but they still had one more change to make - behind the bench. Tom Renney is yesterday's news from the standpoint of being able to motivate his players. They win, they lose, and then they lose some more before they win again. They collapsed at the end of last season, and were done like dinner even before the Devils devoured them. I just think they're roasting at a lower temperature this time.
I was trying to hold onto some hope, but what keeps popping into mind are all the games the Rangers have lost this season by one goal, all the blown third period leads, and all the big games that turn into big let downs. I know I sound pretty pessimistic here, but it all adds up to a downer of a season. They still have a chance, but they need to beat the Devil's and keep on winning from here on out. Good luck.
I agree with most of the comments above. They just do enough to lose.. They are soft, and have not been clutch all yr. Their defensive stats believe it or not are pretty good, their offens is actually down... The is a chance just not a good one...
I'm pretty angry that management chose Isbister when Callhan has been busting his butt all season long and he might be smaller, yet plays with more speed, something they lack.
Their defense is attrocious and needs to be "rebuilt" (pardon the pun). Kaspar, Ward, and Malik should be bought out which would only cost 1.5 against; cancelled out by Girardi and Marc Staal, and use the money spent on not resigning Weekes and not tending Rachunek (a sfotie) to go after Sheldon Souray or Norstrom or both. Yes Norstrom is old, but giving him a Shanahan-esque deal would be good for the locker room and he ca teach guys like Tyutin, Girardi, Staal, and Baranka a real thing about defense.
Wow...lot of things to think about here.
Renney may not be the coach of the year and yea he has screwed up but, to start chanting FIRE RENNEY now is a waste of time and energy. In my opinion also a cop out. If we don't make the playoffs I would say he is good as gone and thats the way it should be.
Jagr said it best "I'm talking about the team; it makes mistakes, one or two mistakes, in the third period," he said. "I don't look at who we're playing against. All I worry about is to win the hockey game. We're beating ourselves."
There you have it, they have beat themselves all year.
As for Callahan vs. Isbister there is obviously a reason behind it. People need to let this Hartford Kid Crap go a bit. If Management felt the same way then he would ride the bus heer instead. Obviously they don't.
Why dont you people get it, Staal can't be brought up until his OHL season is finished.
Yeah I think Isbister is the better choice at the very least for this game against the Devils. Isbister is a gritty forward who can take the body and drop the gloves if need be. I think we've all noticed the Blueshirts getting bullied on the ice. That's probably part of the reason Colton Orr is back out there. We have guys that can score already. They just need some grinders to go out there and intimidate, agitate and create space for the scoring lines. Hopefully tonight we'll see some of those tough guys getting under the skin of the Devils skill players just like their guys did to our skill players. I think Isbister is the best choice for this game hands down.
Now we just need to bring in Keith Tkachuk. ha ha.
I wanna see more Avery in front of the net. Shots and a guy doing what he did the other night is the only way to beat Brodeur. As well as 5 man rushes all game long.
I also want to see Janssen get F*#ked up. Especially if he thinks of running Lundqvist or anything stupid like that!
This team isnt going 15-7, and after they lose tonight they wont be able to go 15-6.
A ton of home games left, and we all know how inconsistent they've played at home this season.
Theyll have win 5 to 7 in a row for me to believe this team has a shot.
They should trade Nylander for something young and a pick and then resign him in the summer because you know he wants to be in NY. He becomes a UFA in june if he doesnt pick up his player option.
Like Sather has said he isn't making any deals til deadline day when they have a better idea of Buyers or Sellers. I don't know if I would trade Nylander and that would depend on what they want to do. I believe that your wrong Nick and Nylander has team option.
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