The Week: Gaborik Plays Here

The Week: Gaborik Plays Here

If you haven’t seen it yet, MSG is running a new ad. It’s Marian Gaborik’s goal against the Kings. Then flashed across the screen we read “Gaborik plays here.”

Yes, yes indeed Gaborik plays here. And we couldn’t be happier.

How long as it been where you want to reach out to someone during a game to say “did you just see that?” Like I said last week, we haven’t seen someone who gets us out of our seats like this since Jagr. And when I say that, I mean the 2005-06 version of Jagr, who set a team record for goals in a season.

Welcome to the world of hockey where the Rangers actually score goals. It’s not just Gaborik since the team is averaging four goals per game, which is tied for the league lead with Atlanta. Sure, we can be skeptical that it won’t last, especially with how last season went.

90957610BB020_LOS_ANGELES_KBUT HOLY CRAP, HAVE YOU SEEN GABORIK PLAY?! It’s like there’s a collective hockey orgasm in New York whenever he scores a goal.

That brings me back to another topic from last week, the MSG broadcasters. Guys, we watch the games. You don’t need to remind us Gaborik is awesome or has a quick release. Or how Del Zotto is contributing offensively. Or how the power play is kicking butt. We can see it with our own eyes, guys.

And those profile pieces get more annoying by the minute. Did you know Boyle’s favorite food is Cool Ranch Doritos because it’s a flavor explosion in his mouth? Make. It. Stop.

By the way, guess who the Rangers see at the end of this week for the first time? The Montreal Canadiens. How will the MSG folks play up Scott Gomez playing against his old team for the first time? Montreal is 2-5-0 so far this season. Guess how many points Gomez has? Four. One goal, three assists.

Gaborik’s got 12 points. Six goals, six assists.

On a completely unrelated topic, one of our favorite pass times around here the last few years has been the current NHL standings and point system. The New York Times Slapshot blog had an interesting take on the issue last week.

My biggest complaint with the system was the extra point for an overtime loss, especially while Renney was coach. He seemed to be happy to get to overtime many nights and get the one point and win the second in the shootout. But if the Rangers do that against the Penguins or Devils or Flyers or anyone else in the conference with whom they’re battling with for a playoff spot, they’re giving away a point. Instead of climbing up by two points in the standings, they’re only going up by one.

If the NHL isn’t going to bring back ties, they need to get rid of the loser point.

Last Week

Monday: Toronto 2, Rangers 7
Wednesday: Kings 2, Rangers 4
Saturday: Rangers 4, Toronto 1

This Week

Monday: versus Sharks (Versus)
Thursday: versus Devils (MSGHD)
Saturday: at Canadiens (MSGHD, CBC)

Weekly Poll

Highlights of the Week

The highlight of the week: Gaborik scores on the Kings

Lundqvist makes a save against the Leafs

Rangers blogs
Blueshirt Bulletin
Rick Carpiniello’s Rangers Report
Andrew Gross’ Rangers Rants (Gross on Twitter)
Hockey Rodent
Michael Obernauer’s Blueshirt Blog
Steve Zipay’s On the Rangers Beat (Zipay on Twitter)