Blue Notes

I hate the Isles and took a lot of insults being a Rangers fan growing up in LI in the late 80s/early 90s so when they lose or don't do well I don't really feel bad for them, but to be unbiased, it wouldn't be a good thing if they moved, as I have some friends who are very passionate fans and it would be good for NY. The key for them is to draft better as that is the only way they'll attract marquee free agents. Okposo looks good, but they need more. They DESPERATELY need a new arena too.

Alright, no more talking about that disgusting team (whose fans sing nursery rhymes and honk their horns after wins with no rhythm).

Keys to today's game:
1)Patience; Bruins play tight defense and thrive on turnovers (Claude Julien hockey) don't try to be the Red Army, just be patient and smart with the passes and decissions.

2)Pressure on the Bruins D: Chara is a little banged up and they've played a lot lately, put an enormous amount of pressure on their D (paging Avery, Dubinsky, Callahan, Sjostrom) and make them cough up the puck to let the skill players like Jagr, Gomez, and Dawes cycle in the O zone.

3)Screen Thomas: He's been shakey so put all kinds of pressure and shhot at him from every angle, but always have a guy in frnot of him, giving him a hard afternoon.

Three keys to the game:

1. Stay out of the box

2. Come out flying and score the first goal.

3. Play 60 minutes, Boston will definitely be tired come the 3rd period.

This is nothing short of a playoff game today.

Steve I disagree with you re the islanders. would love to see them contract or move. so as a Nassau taxpaper and huge Ranger fan why would I want to have my $ subsidize them. the league needs 24 teams not 30. and based on fan base, facilities and not needing 3 teams in tri state area theIsles have to be one of the eliminated teams. would love to go to the last game of their history to offer my condolences.

re rivalries in life when something leaves another takes it's place. (ie nature abhors a vacuum) so Boston would become a much bigger rival. Just like the other major sports and like they used to be for the Rangers. between Boston, Philly, the Devils to say nothing of other original 6 teams like Montreal and Toronto, the Rangers would not lack for rivals. and the NHL would have a far far better product with only 24 teams. and even if the Isles just moved to Hamilton, the "Islander" franchise would have natural rivals with the other Canadian teams and Buffalo.

With 24 teams you could have three 8-team leagues and a sensible 74-game sked consisting of six games vs. intra-conference opponents (42 games), and two games vs. inter-conference opponents (32 games). The Rangers maintaining the traditional rivalries with Chicago and Detroit should not be sacrificed to over-expansion.

I'll accept this as a limited retraction Steve, and take this blog as an apology.
Nuf said (on my part).

LI Joe
"... as a Nassau taxpaper and huge Ranger fan why would I want to have my $ subsidize them. "

maybe for the same reason that NYC taxpayers allow you to live in the comforts of Long Island while rooting for a team that takes advantage of their $ to subsidize your pleasures?
At least it is comforting to know that Hypocrisy, still, knows no boundaries..

Do any of you really believe that the NHL would ever consider downsizing the league?
If so, pass that bong over here.

Isles 505 - re contraction probably not but never say never. at some point recession could cause it and just a desire for abetter on ice product may prevail. obviously more chances of relocations and if the Isles don't get the arena they are prime to move. and Nassau taxpayer $ have better places to help (education, law enforcement etc)

1) The only reason I wish the Islanders would do well for once is so hockey can become more popular on the Island. I'm sick of people looking at me like I'm a fan of curling when I talk about hockey.

2) The key to tonight's game is lighting the Bruins up with shots, especially if Thomas is in net. They lost 10-2 then 8-2 two games later, so getting shots to the net, even the Rangers famous low-angle shots, is real key. These goalies have been giving up soft goals lately.

LI Joe, I would love it too, if the Islanders melted as a franchise. They don't belong there, anyway. Never did.

as a die hard ranger fan as long as we make the playoffs then i love seeing the isles get into the playoffs and get their hopes and dreams crushed first round every year hahahaha

I just find the Islanders fans crude, rude and totally a bunch of loosers. I really don't hate their team or players, it's the fans that irk me so much. I remember as a youngster how they taunted us about the 1940 cup. Does anyone recall them scratching "1940" into the glass in our penalty box when we played them on thier ice???? Nice guys....Even after we won the cup in 1994, some of them still were chanting 1940!! What loosers.
I wish their team would just go away and leave the NY metro area, so that we don't have to deal with them anymore.
My wish and dream is for them to just miss the playoffs by one point so that they don't get a good draft choice.
I want them to go away, whether it's Canada, Europe, or Africa.. send them packing anywhere, just go away!!

I can totally relate to this dialogue. Although I moved off the Island 15 yrs ago I was born and raised there and as a Ranger fan who lived and died with every game ( w/Bill Chadwick and Jim Gordon) when the Islanders were winning I took a lot of abuse. On the subject of them moving the franchise I actually find it sad.Despite what Sal from Uniondale and Joey from East Meadow might say this franchise has been irrelevant for the better part of 15-20 years in the NHL and national picture. Let'em go Hartford Whaler style and let the franchise fade into it's rightful niche as an early 80's oddity like Weird Al, earth shoes and members only jackets. BTW, they may actually have a few knowledgeable fans, but I've not actually met any.

How many cups do the Islanders have? And how come everyone seems to forget that your "Capt" left you as a free agent. Messier was sure loyal to NY, why not treat him like a king? LOL Being the top team in payroll and last in Stanley cups does not make you a better franchise. And I know the Rangers won a playoff series last year, but how many have they won this century that makes them god's gift to hockey?? There will be no franchises contracted ever, and please do not say anything like the recession or anything idiotic. Will never happen. Dolans are the best owners woo hoo

Charles Wang rocks! What an owner! He is the best! I am clueless! Pass that bong!

Let's go Rangers!