Tag: Rangers

Different Brand of Hockey Fuels Rangers’ Recent Success

Post author By Collins Abia
Post date January 20, 2025
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Rangers gain momentum with six-game point streak ahead of Blue Jackets clash (Rangers)

The Rangers have maintained a consistent record about their games throughout the past few weeks. While their standing and outcomes haven’t dramatically changed, they have shown noticeable progress from their lowest points during the season’s decline.

Following a successful three-game West Coast trip where they earned five out of a possible six points, the Rangers finally have results to validate their claims.

Rangers eye playoff position after earning points in seven of last eight games (Rangers)

They’ve managed to collect points in seven of their last eight games, heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Blue Jackets with a six-game point streak.

This stretch marks the beginning of a four-game series against teams they can compete with as they pursue a playoff position.

A Surge in Performance

Reilly Smith shared his thoughts after a 5-3 victory against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, stating, “It seems like ever since Christmas, we’re playing a different brand of hockey.”

This indicates that the Rangers are gaining momentum compared to earlier in the season and have the opportunity to surpass teams in the standings if they can continue to accumulate points and wins.

Currently, the Rangers trail the Bruins by four points for the second wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets, who have secured six consecutive wins, are just five points ahead but started the year with a record of 16-17-6.

This weekend marks the Rangers’ first encounter with the Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season, and they have won five of their last seven meetings against Columbus.

Following this game, the Rangers will face the Canadiens, Senators, and Flyers, all of which currently sit ahead of them but outside the playoff picture.

Against these teams, the Rangers hold a 4-1 record this season and are trailing them by two points, two points, and one point, respectively, in the wild-card race.

Even during their toughest stretch, the cluster of teams around the Eastern Conference wild-card spots offered the Rangers a potential pathway to salvage their season.

This opportunity could allow them to make necessary adjustments as they approach the trade deadline, putting them in a position to reshape their roster for a final push toward the postseason with their current core players.

While they still have a long way to go to reach that goal, the Rangers have made strides in the right direction following their recent performance.

Future Prospects and Team Dynamics

As they prepare for the upcoming games, maintaining their current surge could facilitate their ascent in the standings.

Reilly Smith credits post-Christmas changes for Rangers’ improved play (Rangers)

Artemi Panarin emphasized the importance of their recent success, saying, “That’s important for sure. It’s a great road trip for us, and we’re gonna be ready for the next game. Pretty important game against Columbus.”

After Arthur Kaliyev scored on Thursday for his first point since joining the Rangers, it’s noteworthy that the team has seen contributions from 26 different players this season, tying for the highest in the NHL.

Kaliyev, who was signed off waivers last week, has also logged at least 12 minutes of ice time in two of the last three games.

As the Rangers face a back-to-back challenge this weekend, goaltender Jonathan Quick is likely to have another opportunity to become the first U.S.-born goaltender to achieve 400 career wins. Quick remains at 399 after losing his last two starts.

Tags Blue Jackets, Rangers

FEATURED

Sky Sports Cleared by Ofcom Over Sectarian Chant Complaints During Rangers Match Broadcast

Post author By Brian Anderson
Post date January 17, 2025
No Comments on Sky Sports Cleared by Ofcom Over Sectarian Chant Complaints During Rangers Match Broadcast

Sky Sports has been cleared by UK media regulator Ofcom following complaints about sectarian chanting from Rangers supporters during a live broadcast. The incident occurred during Rangers’ league match against Ross County at Dingwall in December. Ofcom received four complaints regarding offensive chants heard during the broadcast but ultimately decided the matter did not warrant an official investigation under the Broadcasting Code.

In its review, Ofcom found that the chants’ exact wording was not distinctly audible to viewers, particularly given the context of a live sporting event. As a result, the regulator concluded there was insufficient grounds to pursue the complaints further. This decision effectively ends any formal action against Sky Sports over the issue.

The incident sparked criticism on social media, with some viewers expressing frustration over the perceived lack of acknowledgment or apology from the broadcaster. One social media user noted the contrast between the lack of response to sectarian chants and the immediate apologies typically issued for player swearing. Another user criticized the authorities for not addressing the issue more rigorously, suggesting that inaction allows such behavior to persist.

Ofcom addressed these concerns, stating that after a careful assessment, the complaints did not raise significant issues requiring further action. This marks another instance where Sky Sports has been cleared of similar accusations; a 2022 case also saw Ofcom decline to investigate sectarian chants, this time targeting pundit Kris Boyd during a broadcast of a Celtic match.

In the 2022 incident, sectarian chants directed at Boyd were audibly captured during live coverage of a match between Celtic and Dundee United. Sky Sports responded by apologizing during its pre-match coverage, acknowledging the offensive behavior that occurred while Boyd was on air alongside fellow former players Shaun Maloney and John Rankin. These cases highlight the challenges broadcasters face in managing live coverage of potentially sensitive incidents.

Tags Rangers, Sky Sports

Football (Premier League)

Des Roache Criticizes VAR for Missing Penalty Call in League Cup Final Between Rangers and Celtic

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date January 12, 2025
No Comments on Des Roache Criticizes VAR for Missing Penalty Call in League Cup Final Between Rangers and Celtic

Des Roache, a former top-tier referee, has raised concerns over a controversial moment in the League Cup final between Rangers and Celtic. Roache believes Rangers were unfairly denied a penalty during extra time after Celtic’s Liam Scales fouled Vaclav Cerny inside the penalty area. According to Roache, VAR, led by Alan Muir, missed the foul, and the protocol was not correctly followed. Roache argued that Muir should have advised referee John Beaton to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, as the foul clearly occurred within the penalty box.

Roache further explained that according to the laws of the game, if a foul is committed outside the penalty area but continues inside, it should still result in a penalty. He pointed out that Scales held onto Cerny while the player’s foot was on the penalty area line, which should have been interpreted as part of the penalty box. Roache was firm in his belief that this situation met the criteria for a penalty kick and questioned why VAR failed to identify the mistake, especially since it was evident when the footage was reviewed.

The former referee expressed his astonishment at VAR’s oversight, stressing that the system is designed to correct clear errors in officiating by providing a slower, more detailed analysis of the footage. Roache emphasized that VAR should have caught the mistake and recommended a review. He was particularly surprised because the technology allowed for a more precise evaluation, and he felt this was a clear example of where it should have been used to overturn the decision.

Despite his criticism of VAR, Roache offered praise for John Beaton’s overall performance during the match. He acknowledged that Beaton had a strong game, and initially, he too did not think it was a penalty when viewing it live. However, after seeing still images of the incident, Roache changed his opinion, realizing that the initial decision was wrong. This shift in perspective led him to believe that Beaton could have benefited from a second look at the situation.

Finally, Roache proposed that VAR should have intervened and recommended that Beaton take a closer look at the incident, given the uncertainty surrounding the decision. While he respected Beaton’s autonomy to review or not review the call, Roache felt that the role of VAR is to ensure accuracy when there is doubt. He stressed that in cases where uncertainty arises, it’s essential for VAR to act and guide the on-field referee to ensure the right decision is made.

Tags Celtic, Des Roache, Rangers

NHL (National Hockey League)

Chris Kreider Addresses Trade Rumors and Injury Speculations

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date December 9, 2024
No Comments on Chris Kreider Addresses Trade Rumors and Injury Speculations

For the first time in quite a while, Chris Kreider’s name has appeared on the trade block.

On Sunday, New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to the NHL informing them that he is open to trading Kreider.

This news is surprising and emotional for a player who has spent all 13 seasons of his career in New York, making it a significant moment for both Kreider and the team.

When asked about the trade rumors, Kreider did not shy away from addressing the situation.

“Shouldn’t trivialize someone’s feelings, but how you feel doesn’t affect your ability to do something that you’ve done for the entirety of your life – unless you let it,” Kreider shared with Mollie Walker of The New York Post.

According to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, Drury met with Kreider on Tuesday for an honest and productive discussion.

Through 19 games this season, Kreider has scored nine goals. However, the 33-year-old has not been playing up to the high standard that fans have come to expect from him.

The adversity the Rangers are facing right now could either become a positive or negative experience, depending on how the team responds. Kreider is well aware of this.

“I think it’s pretty obvious there’s frustration, angst, tension,” Kreider said, according to The New York Post. “Good. We’re 20 games in. Let’s go through this s–t now and figure out who we are.

We had the best regular season in the history of an Original Six franchise last year, won a Presidents’ Trophy and didn’t go as far as we would’ve liked.

We’re getting exposed right now. Our warts are out there, and teams are picking on the things we don’t do well and we’ve gotten away from the things we do do well.

“We don’t necessarily know what this is right now, right? This could just be part of the story. We look back at this and say, ‘This made us better.’”

The Rangers are currently on a three-game losing streak and have not been performing at their best in recent weeks.

Just over a month into the season, the Rangers are already dealing with internal locker room issues and trade rumors that are looming over them.

While this is far from an ideal situation, it might be better that all of this is happening now, as the veteran squad still has months to course-correct and get back on track in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup.

Tags Chris Kreider, Rangers

NHL (National Hockey League)

Urho Vaakanainen Joins Rangers Following Jacob Trouba Trade

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date December 9, 2024
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Jacob Trouba is no longer the captain of the New York Rangers, as he is reportedly heading to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for depth defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

“The official trade call with the league hasn’t happened yet, so it’s still pending approval, but it will be defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick to the Rangers for Trouba. The Ducks will take on Trouba’s full contract, with no salary retained by the Rangers.”

It’s rare for teams to make significant changes this early in December, and when they do, it’s often due to serious internal issues.

In New York, the team’s struggles were highlighted by a generally poor season and six losses in their last seven games.

While there were concerns about locker room dynamics and a lack of urgency, the main issue appeared to be Trouba, who rejected a trade over the summer and seemed resigned to eventually leaving the team.

On Friday, the Rangers made the decision to part ways with Trouba. Now, let’s take a closer look at what this trade means for both New York and Anaheim and how each team fares in this transaction.

To fully assess what went wrong with Jacob Trouba in New York, a more detailed analysis is required. In short, his performance took a significant downturn, and the Rangers misused him as a shutdown defenseman.

While Trouba is capable of delivering the occasional big hit, his footwork, decision-making, and positioning weren’t up to par for someone expected to log heavy minutes.

Perhaps he can rediscover his game in Anaheim, but it was clear that this wasn’t going to happen in New York.

Off the ice, Trouba’s struggles contributed to internal frustration, and the Rangers are not just moving on from an underperforming player, but also one at the center of much organizational unrest.

The most important aspect of this trade for the Rangers is that Anaheim is absorbing Trouba’s full $8 million cap hit through 2026, without sending any contracts back to New York. Just a few months ago, this outcome would have seemed highly unlikely.

Even without considering the return, this trade is a major win for Rangers general manager Chris Drury, as it frees up valuable cap space. This move opens up possibilities to reshape the team either at the 2025 trade deadline or during the offseason.

That said, this isn’t simply a cap dump for the Rangers. Urho Vaakanainen, 25, has the potential to provide the cheap, no-frills depth the Rangers need for their third defensive pairing.

The 2017 first-round pick of the Boston Bruins has had his career disrupted by injuries, including this season, but he has played solid, steady hockey in Anaheim, even in an otherwise chaotic environment. Standing 6’2″ and skating well, Vaakanainen has proven capable of advancing the puck out of the defensive zone.

The Rangers’ defense has struggled with speed in recent years, and moving from Trouba to Vaakanainen is primarily a significant improvement in that department. The Finnish defenseman has a $1.1 million cap hit and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

If all goes well, Vaakanainen could be a cost-effective addition to the Rangers’ lineup beyond this season. Additionally, the fourth-round pick is a welcomed asset for a team that has traded away most of its middle-round draft picks in recent years.

In the end, though, this trade is less about the immediate return and more about getting rid of a toxic situation in the short-term, while setting the stage for a future overhaul of the defense.

Tags Jacob Trouba, Rangers, Urho Vaakanainen