2019 March

Kevin Shattenkirk can’t discover winning formula against ex-team

Not even a double dose of double deuces down the stretch was enough to rescue the Rangers from another in what has become a disturbing early trend of disjointed and detached performances. For while Kevin Shattenkirk was on for 5:05 of the final 10:31 (and Ryan McDonagh for 5:45 of the final 9:12), the Rangers […]

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Rangers coach sits veteran defenseman again

The makeup of the Rangers defense is hardly what they thought it was going to be in training camp, and suddenly the question is whether that group is still a strength of theirs at all. For the second straight game, coach Alain Vigneault made veteran Brendan Smith a healthy scratch, this time also adding 21-year-old […]

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Vigneault’s experiments have only led to Rangers confusion

One by one the Rangers pronounced that this was not the time to panic, their declarations unsolicited, at that. Truth be told, if the Blueshirts were in a panic mode following a 1-3 start that has featured generally lousy hockey, then that would be reason for panic in and of itself. “Good point,” said Kevin […]

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J.T. Miller is filling one hole for the Rangers but leaving another

Click:mining equipment Of the series of personnel modifications through the first four games, no Ranger has been called upon to make a more significant adjustment than J.T. Miller, who has shifted from the wing to the middle following the benching/scratching/demotion of Filip Chytil. “I think for the most part it’s gone well,” said Miller, who […]

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Devils score rarest of short-handed goals, win battle of unbeatens

TORONTO — The Maple Leafs had a big shots advantage and even two more skaters on the key play. The Devils put up the only big numbers that mattered — on the scoreboard. Brian Gibbons had a rare 3-on-5 goal, Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha each scored twice and unbeaten New Jersey beat Toronto 6-3 […]

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Islanders fall despite putting 41 shots on goal

ANAHEIM, Calif. — John Gibson made 38 saves and the Ducks beat the Islanders 3-2 on Wednesday night, ending a four-game losing streak to New York. Andrew Cogliano, Rickard Rakell and Patrick Eaves all scored for the Ducks, who won despite being outshot 41-30. Ryan Getzlaf rocketed a pass from the far boards to Josh […]

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How the Rangers’ dream pairing has gone wrong so fast

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Ryan McDonagh, not this year, when the Rangers captain finally was going to get a suitable running mate. But the signing of Kevin Shattenkirk has not been the magic elixir, not yet at least. And it has once again left McDonagh without a real […]

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Rangers veteran trying to put benching in the past

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Brendan Smith was willing to admit that it was a surprise that he was a healthy scratch just three games into the season. But as the Rangers veteran defenseman prepared to return to the lineup for Friday’s match against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, he was trying to put his benching […]

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Injured players reeling in monster fish is NHL controversy

Two players on the Winnipeg Jets might be injured enough to miss hockey games, but that didn’t limit their ability to reel in a massive, prehistoric-looking fish. Dustin Byfuglien and Matt Hendricks had a day off in between the Jets’ games in Edmonton and Vancouver, so Wednesday they booked a fishing expedition with Sturgeon Slayers, […]

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Golden Knights reminded us why sports can matter so much

COLUMUBUS, Ohio — Here is something Jon Ledecky has said repeatedly since he and co-owner Scott Malkin bought the majority stake in the Islanders two years ago, reiterating it on Tuesday in midtown Manhattan. “Scott and I bought it to do what we felt was community work and have a community trust.” It is an […]

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