Tag: New York Rangers

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Devils fan choked unconscious after assaulting Rangers fan.

The opening round series between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers is starting to heat up considerably now that the Devils have punched back and even taken the lead in this series, and unfortunately that can mean things getting a little too emotional at times.

This week we were treated to an example of that when a conflict between a pair of opposing fans was caught on video. In the video we can see what is at first a verbal confrontation between a fan wearing a Devils jersey and another fan wearing a Rangers jersey. Although we don’t know the source of the conflict it’s probably fair to say that the fact that the two people involved were rooting for different teams probably played some factor, but it appears to be the Devils fan that escalates things to the point of violence.

In the video we can see the Devils fan slap the drink in the hand of the Rangers fan, resulting in the Rangers fan grabbing the Devils fan around the neck and quickly putting him to sleep with a chokehold. In something of an ironic twist of fate, the Devils fan spills his own beer everywhere, including on himself, as he falls limp the floor.

The Devils fan had plenty of opportunity to avoid the conflict, including a woman repeatedly trying to pull him away, but instead ended up flat on his back in front of thousands of people both live in attendance and now on the internet as well.

If you’re going to attend a Stanley Cup playoff game this season, don’t be this guy.

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VIDEO: Igor Shesterkin screams at teammates on bench

The Hockey Beast

The New York Rangers were in control of their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the rival New Jersey Devils, enjoying a 2-0 series lead after having dominated the Devils on their home ice in Games 1 and 2. 

However, the Devils have completely flipped the script on the Rangers, having won the next three straight to put New York on the brink of elimination. Last night’s game was no contest, as the Devils put together a dominating 4-0 shutout in front of a rocking crowd at Prudential Center. 

And the frustration is understandably staring to build for the Rangers, led by goaltender Igor Shesterkin. During a break in play in the 2nd period, cameras caught the reigning Vezina Trophy winner yelling at his teammates on the bench to “Wake the f**k up!” 

The Rangers will attempt to get back into the series and force a Game 7 when the two teams get back together tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden for Game 6. 

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Gerard Gallant rips Rangers after listless effort vs. Devils

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The New York Rangers were in the drivers seat against their bitter rival New Jersey Devils, having dominated them in the first two games of their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs series at Prudential Center by a combined score of 10-2. You’d think that heading home to the rocking atmosphere of Madison Square Garden in Manhattan with a two games to none series lead would be a good thing for the Blueshirts. 

However, the Devils gave the Rangers a little taste of hell in New York, first defeating them in overtime thanks to a Dougie Hamilton snipe, and then continuing to stifle their offensive attack in last night’s Game 4 and tying things up at two games apiece. Goaltender Akira Schmid has been solid between the pipes, stopping 57 of the 59 shots the Rangers have fired his way since replacing Vitek Vanecek. 

For the Rangers to suddenly fall flat on home ice in the postseason is understandably not sitting well with head coach Gerard Gallant, who took his team to task in his postgame media remarks. 

“Not good. Not good enough. Not even close to good enough,” a visibly frustrated Gallant said. “Very disappointing.”

Gallant also didn’t care for, as he put it, his players caring more about voicing their displeasure with the performance of the linesman more than their own. 

“We didn’t show up,” Gallant said. We didn’t play hard enough. We didn’t compete hard enough. All we did was yap at the linesmen for getting thrown out of the faceoffs. A lot of bad things tonight.”

New York certainly wasn’t aided by their power-play units, which have gone completely dry and are mired in an 0-for-11 slump after initially starting the postseason red hot. 

The series now shifts back to Prudential Center in Newark, where the rejuvenated Devils will hope to gain the upper hand on the Rangers by seizing a one-game lead before returning to New York for Game 6. 

Game 5 between the two teams will take place Thursday night beginning at 7:30 PM EST. 

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Jack Hughes stares down Rangers fans after highlight goal

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It seemed as though the New York Rangers had everything perfectly in control in their opening round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against their bitter rival New Jersey Devils, having taken both games over the Devils at Prudential Center in convincing fashion heading back to the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden in Manhattan for Games 3 and 4. 

But the Devils would flip the script on the Rangers in Game 3 thanks to an overtime game-winner from defenseman Dougie Hamilton along with 35 saves from goaltender Akira Schmid, who replaced Vitek Vancecek between the pipes. 

And they’re off to a fast start tonight in Game 4 thanks to a filthy breakaway goal from star forward Jack Hughes just minutes after the opening face-off. And after deking goaltender Igor Shesterkin and slipping the puck across the goal line, he made sure Rangers fans felt it: 

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Chris Kreider sets Rangers history in Game 1 win

NewsDay

The New York Rangers put together a true top to bottom dominating performance in Game 1 of their opening round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against their bitter rival New Jersey Devils tonight. By the time that it was all said and done, the Rangers had put four pucks past Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek en route to a 5-1 victory and 1-0 early series advantage. 

And it was a longtime Rangers forward who left his mark not only on tonight’s game, but also etched himself into the team record books. Chris Kreider tallied two goals, giving him a total of 36 in his playoff career. He’s now the leading playoff goal scorer in Rangers franchise history, an incredible accomplishment considering New York’s long history as an Original 6 NHL team. The feat moved him ahead of Rod Gilbert:

As if that weren’t enough, he’s also the all-time Rangers leader in power play goals with 14.

However, Kreider kept the spotlight on goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who made 27 saves in the victory.

“More often than not, he’s our best player,” Kreider said in the dressing room afterward. “He’s making those big saves and making them look easy. Just instills a lot of confidence in your group when he’s playing like that.”

The Rangers and Devils will get back at it in Game 2 of their series on Thursday night from Prudential Center before shifting back to New York’s Madison Square Garden. 

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Blues have special message for Vladimir Tarasenko

NHL.com

The Vladimir Tarasenko era with the St. Louis Blues that included the franchise’s first Stanley Cup victory officially came to an end in February. He was traded to the New York Rangers as part of a blockbuster deal that saw Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick sent back to St. Louis. Additionally, the Blues retained 50% of Tarasenko’s cap hit. 

It wasn’t long after the trade that Tarasenko, who requested a trade last season but later rescinded the request, said that there was “no chance” of his staying with St. Louis. 

“There was no chance I was staying in St. Louis,” he said. “No deal was offered, so I knew I was going to be moved somewhere. I talked with Artemi (Panarin) and they want me here. I want to be here, too.” 

Last night marked Tarasenko’s return to St. Louis for the first time since the trade went down. And not surprisingly, the Blues had a special video tribute prepared for him during a break in play the 1st period.

And afterward, the former Blues forward certainly was appreciative of the love that he was shown by the fans who cheered for him for 11 years. 

“This was a very emotional moment for me,” he said .”Thank you very much to the whole community. I don’t talk very much since the trade, but all the support they give us through those 11 years was unreal. I always loved the fans. So it was very, very emotional for us.”

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Patrick Kane finally “comfortable” with Rangers

Blue Line Station

Forward Patrick Kane certainly made no bones about his displeasure after the New York Rangers acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues last month, which appeared to signal the end of their interest in bringing him aboard as well. But the good news for Kane is that he eventually did get his happy ending. 

Kane would ultimately be acquired by the Rangers from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional 2023 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick; the conditional second-round pick becomes a first-round pick in either 2024 or 2025 if Kane is able to help the Rangers win two playoff rounds this year. 

It certainly is an adjustment when you come to a new team after having worn a single NHL uniform for the first 16 years of your NHL career, and Kane said that it was no different from him coming from The Windy City to The Big Apple. He’s getting more and more acclimated to his new teammates and system, having tallied five goals and five assists in the 16 games he’s appeared in wearing the blue and red of the Rangers.

“I would say I’m comfortable,” Kane told NHL.com last week. “After the first four or five games I felt like I was getting somewhere and now it’s like kind of at that place where you’re in the mode of you feel you should still try to take over.” 

“I know they’ve had a lot of success here, so I’m viewing these 21 games to just get myself settled in, figure out the way I need to do things, figure out the way I need to play and then make sure everything is dialed once the playoffs start,” Kane continued.

The Rangers have championship aspirations, and will be looking for a return trip to the Eastern Conference Final, albeit with a better outcome than last year’s loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. For Kane, his routine with the Blackhawks involved plenty of winning, having lifted the Stanley Cup three times in six years. He’s now grown accustomed to his new routine in New York that he’s envisioning being capped with more postseason success.

“You get into a routine for 16 years with things you’re so used to, so accustomed to that you don’t really have to think about it,” he said. “Then you come here and all of a sudden you have to think about it, like how you’re going to do your pregame warmup or where you’re doing it, or what’s you’re going to need from the trainers. It’s all things like that. They may not seem like meaningful things but they’re things you have to dial in to have a routine.”