Observant Rangerland readers or people who follow me on Twitter already know something’s been missing this preseason. I haven’t been writing pregames.
While fun to write, they’re extremely time consuming. Especially when you’re a full-time journalist running a community news Web site (disclaimer: my current company in no way is associated with Rangerland and this is just a personal side project of which they are fully aware). So this season I’m introducing “The Week.” It’s basically a weekly version of what everyone used to get in the pregame posts. Some wit, humor and a run-down of things going on with the Rangers.
I don’t know about anyone else, but hockey season (even if it’s just the preseason) couldn’t get here fast enough. It’s no secret I’m a Mets fan, and this last season the highlight has mainly been the new ballpark. It hasn’t been a good summer for us fans of the Amazins, which is why Sept. 12 was circled on my sports calendar. Training camp finally opened. Unfortunately, it was without one player who could be one of the most important this season: Brandon Dubinsky.
If you believe some fans, Dubinsky was asking for $1 million for every funny face he’s ever made. He also ran over a litter of kittens (don’t tell Ms. Burns), caused the Iraqi war, caused the shifts in our weather patterns and invented cancer. He’s been pretty busy.
Whatever the case, he’s here now, Rangers fans are somewhat happy and, personally, I’m excited to see what John Tortorella does with the kid. Not to mention he could have Gaborik on his wing.
It’s funny to read the reaction of Rangers fans of the first handful of preseason games. You’d think it was January by some of the reaction. The penalty kill has given up more goals than it ever did last season. The power play still isn’t scoring. Well, no one is scoring period. There have been a handful of 2-1 games. Some reaction has made me think the NYPD should put extra patrols onto the George Washington Bridge.
For the most part, the first few games have been fun to watch because we’ve seen the youngsters who are fighting for a shot on this team. And some of them, like Artem Anisimov and Matt Gilroy, have shown a lot of flash and promise. It remains to be seen if they actually make the team, but they have a pretty good chance right now.
We won’t get to see what the veterans are doing until this coming week. The roster is finally down to under 25 players. Gaborik finally could play. And it’s the time we’ll finally see the team come together. Just remember, it’s preseason still. The season opener is still a few weeks away.
By the way, I’m especially happy hockey season is back because it means more chances to see Henrik Lundqvist. But there haven’t been nearly enough photos of The King out there this preseason.
Poll of the Week
Last Week (preseason action)
Saturday: Rangers 5, Bruins 2
Friday: Rangers 3, Red Wings 4
Wednesday: Rangers 2, Devils 3 (SO)
Tuesday: Bruins 2, Rangers 1
This Week (preseason action)
Monday: versus Red Wings (TV: MSG)
Thursday: versus Capitals (TV: MSG)
Sunday: at Capitals (TV: MSG)
Highlights of the Week
Hookers and Blow… with Wade Redden.
Easy one.